Segment, Geographic And Customer Information (Net Sales, By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	$ 3,296,034	$ 3,410,797	$ 3,298,808	$ 3,049,854	$ 3,152,961	[1]	$ 3,054,130	[1]	$ 2,954,653	[1]	$ 2,961,143	[1]	$ 13,055,493	$ 12,122,887	$ 11,113,782
Intersegment sales													506,523	497,720	489,474
Operating income (loss)													(1,801,562)	399,684	622,754
Facility closing and reorganization costs													(45,688)	(30,761)	(30,162)
Other operating income													16,831
Litigation settlements													(131,300)	(30,000)
Goodwill impairment	(149,800)	(1,900,000)											(2,075,836)	0	0
Interest expense													252,951	248,301	246,510
Other (income) expense, net													(1,915)	161	(4,221)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes													(2,052,598)	151,222	380,465
Depreciation and amortization													285,767	276,080	253,930
Fresh Dairy Direct [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers													9,596,928	8,968,484	8,456,219
Intersegment sales													65,641	56,321	53,161
Operating income (loss)													349,488	413,486	642,410
Depreciation and amortization													161,326	157,725	146,730
WhiteWave-Alpro [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers													2,109,892	1,937,983	1,632,970
Intersegment sales													108,921	107,923	137,997
Operating income (loss)													199,673	166,269	130,268
Depreciation and amortization													70,075	68,353	58,933
Morningstar [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers													1,348,673	1,216,420	1,024,593
Intersegment sales													331,961	333,476	298,316
Operating income (loss)													95,404	90,956	114,263
Depreciation and amortization													26,438	28,841	29,527
Total Reportable Segments Operating Income [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)													644,565	670,711	886,941
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)													(210,134)	(210,266)	(234,025)
Depreciation and amortization													$ 27,928	$ 21,161	$ 18,740

[1] The results for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2010 include facility closing and reorganization costs, net of tax, of $1.0 million, $4.2 million, $5.3 million and $9.3 million, respectively. See Note 16.