<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-05-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
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        <issuerName>TYSON FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001415534</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>King Donnie</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRINGDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72765</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr.Group VP,Poultry &amp; Prepared</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                    <value>752</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.4575</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72450</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1100</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-16</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1392</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-10-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-16</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6960</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-19</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-09</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock purchased for the Reporting Person's account under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan since the last Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person. Such acquisitions are exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock received by the Reporting Person on December 15, 2012 and March 15, 2012, pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature under Issuer's stock plan since the last Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person. Such acquisitions are exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16a-11.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R. Read Hudson by Power of Attorney for Donnie King</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-05-16
0
0000100493
TYSON FOODS INC
TSN
0001415534
King Donnie
2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY
SPRINGDALE
AR
72765
0
1
0
0
Sr.Group VP,Poultry & Prepared
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-15
5
J
0
E
816
0
A
6998
I
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Class A Common Stock
950
I
By Spouse
Class A Common Stock
2012-03-15
5
J
0
E
98
0
A
71250
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
M
0
1392
9.64
A
72642
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
M
0
6960
13.33
A
79602
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
1500
19.49
D
78102
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
500
19.48
D
77602
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
3900
19.47
D
73702
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
200
19.4739
D
73502
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
752
19.46
D
72750
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
100
19.45
D
72650
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-12
4
S
0
200
19.4575
D
72450
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
1100
19.44
D
71350
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-05-16
4
S
0
100
19.43
D
71250
D
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)
9.64
2012-05-16
4
M
0
1392
9.64
D
2004-10-10
2012-10-10
Class A Common Stock
1392
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)
13.33
2012-05-16
4
M
0
6960
13.33
D
2005-09-19
2013-09-09
Class A Common Stock
6960
0
D
Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock purchased for the Reporting Person's account under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan since the last Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person. Such acquisitions are exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16b-3.
Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock received by the Reporting Person on December 15, 2012 and March 15, 2012, pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature under Issuer's stock plan since the last Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person. Such acquisitions are exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16a-11.
/s/ R. Read Hudson by Power of Attorney for Donnie King
2012-05-18