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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000100493</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TYSON FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200996</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCNAMARA KEVIN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRINGDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72762</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>440</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41787</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5482</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47269</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock received by the Reporting Person 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>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock acquired by the Reporting Person pursuant to the Deferred Fee Plan for Directors, which shares shall vest 180 days after termination of the Reporting Person's service as a member of the Issuer's board of directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents a deferred stock award for shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock having a value of $125,000 on the date of election as a director at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (February 1, 2013), which award will not become payable until 180 days after termination of the Reporting Person's service as a member of the Issuer's board of directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R. Read Hudson by power of attorney for Kevin M. McNamara</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-02-01
0
0000100493
TYSON FOODS INC
TSN
0001200996
MCNAMARA KEVIN M
2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY
SPRINGDALE
AR
72762
1
0
0
0
Class A Common Stock
2012-12-14
5
J
0
E
440
0
A
41787
D
Class A Common Stock
2013-02-01
4
A
0
5482
0
A
47269
D
Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock received by the Reporting Person 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.
Includes shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock acquired by the Reporting Person pursuant to the Deferred Fee Plan for Directors, which shares shall vest 180 days after termination of the Reporting Person's service as a member of the Issuer's board of directors.
Represents a deferred stock award for shares of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock having a value of $125,000 on the date of election as a director at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (February 1, 2013), which award will not become payable until 180 days after termination of the Reporting Person's service as a member of the Issuer's board of directors.
/s/ R. Read Hudson by power of attorney for Kevin M. McNamara
2013-02-05