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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019033</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TYSON DONALD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 2020</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2210 WEST OAKLAWN</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRINGDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72765</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1623498</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1623498</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Tyson Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12938</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>121255</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37881620</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Tyson Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The transaction has also been included in a report on Form 4 filed by the Tyson Limited Partnership (the &quot;Partnership&quot;) on the same date as this filing.  The Partnership completed the reported transactions and the reporting person, who has approximately 54% combined interest as a general and limited partner in the Partnership, must report his pro rata interest in such transactions on this filing even though the Partnership has also included such transactions as part of its Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents 12,938 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 change in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the reporting person.  Such acquisitions are exempt under Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: By: R. Read Hudson, by power of attorney for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-09-09
0
0000100493
TYSON FOODS INC
(TSN)
0001019033
TYSON DONALD J
PO BOX 2020
2210 WEST OAKLAWN
SPRINGDALE
AR
72765
1
0
1
0
Class A Common Stock
2008-09-09
4
P
0
1623498
12.75
A
1623498
I
By Tyson Limited Partnership
Class A Common Stock
2008-08-31
5
J
0
12938
0
A
121255
I
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Class B Common Stock
37881620
I
By Tyson Limited Partnership
The transaction has also been included in a report on Form 4 filed by the Tyson Limited Partnership (the "Partnership") on the same date as this filing.  The Partnership completed the reported transactions and the reporting person, who has approximately 54% combined interest as a general and limited partner in the Partnership, must report his pro rata interest in such transactions on this filing even though the Partnership has also included such transactions as part of its Form 4.
Represents 12,938 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 change in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the reporting person.  Such acquisitions are exempt under Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16b-3.
By: By: R. Read Hudson, by power of attorney for
2008-09-11