Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Deferred tax asset adjustment, amount	$ 16,000,000			$ 10,848,000
State and foreign net operating loss carry forwards		30,881,000	[1]	28,902,000	[2]
State and foreign tax credits		10,070,000	[1]	11,143,000	[2]
Valuation allowance		9,176,000	[1]	7,660,000	[2]
Increase in valuation allowance		1,500,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate		26,800,000
Unrecognized tax benefit that would be offset by tax benefits associated with transfer pricing adjustment		4,800,000
Unrecognized tax benefit with uncertainty about timing of deductibility		10,100,000
Interest expense, net of tax		0		(1,600,000)		1,100,000
Accrued interest		4,100,000		4,900,000
Tax years subject to examination		2008 to 2010
WhiteWave Reporting Unit [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Deferred tax liabilities increase to the goodwill		$ 59,600,000

[1] Includes $10.1 million of deferred tax assets related to uncertain tax positions.

[2] Includes $14.3 million of deferred tax assets related to uncertain tax positions.