<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000100493</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TYSON FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019032</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TYSON JOHN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 2200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRINGDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72765</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Class A Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-29</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>1501994</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2349676</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Class A Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-06-30</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>11746</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>69487</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By ESPP</value>
					<footnoteId id="F2"/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Class A Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>1000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By Daughter</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Class A Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>1000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By Son</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>11.23</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-07-29</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>500000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2005-07-29</value>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-07-29</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Class A Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>500000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>500000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Award of stock pursuant to Tyson Foods, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan to vest on 2-13-08.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Includes 11,746 Shares purchased  from 10-01-02 thru 06-30-03, for the reporting person's account under the Tyson Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan which transactions are exempt under Section 16(b)(3).</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">The Stock Option vests at 40% on 7-29-05 and 20% each year thereafter for 3 years.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>/s/ Tyson, John H.</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-06-30
0
0000100493
TYSON FOODS INC
TSN
0001019032
TYSON JOHN H
P O BOX 2200
SPRINGDALE
AR
72765
1
1
0
0
Chairman & CEO
Class A Common Stock
2003-07-29
4
A
0
1501994
0
A
2349676
D
Class A Common Stock
2003-06-30
4
J
0
11746
0
A
69487
I
By ESPP
Class A Common Stock
1000
I
By Daughter
Class A Common Stock
1000
I
By Son
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
11.23
2003-07-29
4
J
0
500000
0
A
2005-07-29
2013-07-29
Class A Common Stock
500000
500000
D
Award of stock pursuant to Tyson Foods, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan to vest on 2-13-08.
Includes 11,746 Shares purchased  from 10-01-02 thru 06-30-03, for the reporting person's account under the Tyson Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan which transactions are exempt under Section 16(b)(3).
The Stock Option vests at 40% on 7-29-05 and 20% each year thereafter for 3 years.
/s/ Tyson, John H.
2003-07-31