CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (8,508)	$ (20,296)	$ 819,357
(Income) loss from discontinued operations	1,095	652	(2,803)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(668)	(543)	(491,195)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	176,884	164,297	173,829
Share-based compensation expense	16,377	12,276	19,289
(Gain) loss on divestitures and other, net	2,736	(7,549)	(705)
Write-off of financing costs	0	0	6,791
Impairment of intangible and long-lived assets	109,910	20,820	43,441
Loss on early retirement of debt	43,609	1,437	63,387
Gain on disposition of WhiteWave common stock	0	0	(415,783)
Recognition of accumulated losses from de-designated cash flow hedges	0	0	63,454
Deferred income taxes	(34,359)	62,927	10,765
Obligations under litigation settlement	0	(2,521)	0
Other, net	9,225	7,954	1,557
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net	94,279	3,369	22,192
Inventories	(1,495)	11,237	(657)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	8,148	7,849	(5,653)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(46,524)	(41,253)	(131,766)
Termination of interest rate swap liability	0	0	(28,147)
Income taxes receivable/payable	56,297	(49,105)	(459,708)
Litigation settlements	(18,853)	(18,605)	(18,372)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities — continuing operations	408,153	152,946	(330,727)
Net cash provided by operating activities — discontinued operations	0	0	14,086
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	408,153	152,946	(316,641)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(162,542)	(149,421)	(175,163)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	18,495	27,629	9,940
Other	(2,200)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities — continuing operations	(146,247)	(121,792)	(165,223)
Net cash provided by investing activities — discontinued operations	0	0	1,403,494
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(146,247)	(121,792)	1,238,271
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(1,416)	(668)	(1,027,416)
Early retirement of debt	(476,188)	(23,812)	(400,000)
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt	(37,309)	(1,161)	(57,243)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	360,670	2,277,297	1,043,700
Payments for senior secured revolver	(430,971)	(2,257,246)	(1,258,450)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	685,000	2,656,000	908,000
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(920,000)	(2,634,000)	(695,000)
Proceeds from short-term credit facility	0	0	626,750
Payments for short-term credit facility	0	0	(37,521)
Proceeds from issuance of 2023 notes	700,000	0	0
Common stock repurchases	(53,010)	(25,000)	0
Cash dividends paid	(26,182)	(26,232)	0
Payments of financing costs	(16,816)	(3,287)	(6,197)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	(16)	7,861	23,481
Tax savings on share-based compensation	342	360	1,954
Net cash used in financing activities — continuing operations	(215,896)	(29,888)	(877,942)
Net cash used in financing activities — discontinued operations	0	0	(51,584)
Net cash used in financing activities	(215,896)	(29,888)	(929,526)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,638)	(1,666)	1
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	44,372	(400)	(7,895)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	16,362	16,762	24,657
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	60,734	16,362	16,762
Significant non-cash activities:
Disposition of retained investment in WhiteWave common stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 589,229