CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 819,357	$ 161,041	$ (1,592,171)
Income from discontinued operations	(2,803)	(139,279)	(132,495)
(Gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations	(491,195)	2,053	(3,616)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	173,829	186,748	190,141
Share-based compensation expense	19,289	29,091	30,422
(Gain) loss on divestitures and other, net	(705)	(30,449)	14,796
Write-off of financing costs	6,791	3,519
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	43,441		2,075,836
Loss on early retirement of debt	63,387
Gain on disposition of WhiteWave common stock	(415,783)
Recognition of accumulated losses from de-designated cash flow hedges	63,454
Deferred income taxes	10,765	22,429	(490,853)
Other, net	1,557	8,015	1,672
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net	22,192	(7,714)	(48,870)
Inventories	(657)	(2,936)	(10,411)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(5,653)	2,644	(20,349)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(131,766)	20,525	68,815
Termination of interest rate swap liability	(28,147)
Income taxes receivable/payable	(459,708)	10,517	42,762
Litigation settlements	(18,372)	(61,325)	103,838
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	(330,727)	204,879	229,517
Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	14,086	277,539	209,520
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(316,641)	482,418	439,037
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(175,163)	(123,892)	(178,416)
Proceeds from insurance claims		3,075	786
Net proceeds from divestitures		58,034	91,958
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	9,940	12,962	6,650
Other, net		(253)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	(165,223)	(50,074)	(79,022)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	1,403,494	(124,104)	(49,238)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,238,271	(174,178)	(128,260)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(1,027,416)	(1,350,275)	(209,268)
Early retirement of debt	(400,000)
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt	(57,243)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	1,043,700	2,481,800	3,274,390
Payments for senior secured revolver	(1,258,450)	(2,316,500)	(3,627,690)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	908,000	2,683,816	3,956,616
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(695,000)	(2,906,311)	(3,734,123)
Proceeds from short-term credit facility	626,750
Payments for short-term credit facility	(37,521)
Payments of financing costs	(6,197)		(600)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	23,481	6,434	3,623
Tax savings on share-based compensation	1,954	571	33
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(877,942)	(1,400,465)	(337,019)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	(51,584)	1,098,002	43,421
Net cash used in financing activities	(929,526)	(302,463)	(293,598)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1	733	(1,097)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,895)	6,510	16,082
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	24,657	18,147	2,065
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	16,762	24,657	18,147
Significant non-cash activities:
Disposition of retained investment in WhiteWave common stock	$ 589,229