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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340955</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lochner James V</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>37</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>94324</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>88771</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>77136</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>165907</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4265</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4265</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11235</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.58</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10935</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan or Merger dated January 1, 2001 by and among Issuer, Lasso Acquisition Corporation (&quot;Lasso&quot;), a wholly owned subsidiary of Issuer, and IBP, inc. (&quot;IBP&quot;), all options granted by IBP and outstanding on September 28, 2001 (the date IBP merged with Lasso) converted into options to buy Isser Class A common stock at a predetermined exchange rate.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents 37 shares of the Issuer's restricted Class A Common Stock acquired by the Reporting Person pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature under the Tyson Foods, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan since the last statement of changes in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person.  Such acqusition is exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16a-11.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On December 16, 2009, the Issuer entered into a new employment agreement (the &quot;Agreement&quot;) with the Reporting Person.  In connection with the Agreement, 9,771 previously reported shares of restricted Class A Common Stock vested on December 16, 2009 and 1,991 shares were cancelled.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On December 16, 2009, pursuant to an election previously made by the Reporting Person, 3,562 shares were sold by the Reporting Person to the Issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting described above in note 3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Award of restricted Class A Common Stock pursuant to Tyson Foods, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan to vest on December 16, 2012, pursuant to the Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R. Read Hudson by Power of Attorney for James V. Lochner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-12-15
0
0000100493
TYSON FOODS INC
TSN
0001340955
Lochner James V
2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY
SPRINGDALE
AR
72762
0
1
0
0
Chief Operating Officer
Class A Common Stock
2009-12-15
5
J
0
E
37
0
A
94324
D
Class A Common Stock
2009-12-16
4
D
0
1991
0
D
92333
D
Class A Common Stock
2009-12-16
4
F
0
3562
0
D
88771
D
Class A Common Stock
2009-12-16
4
A
0
77136
0
A
165907
D
Class A Common Stock
17103
I
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)
12.64
2009-12-15
4
M
0
4500
12.64
D
2010-01-31
Class A Common Stock
4500
15500
D
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)
12.6
2009-12-15
4
M
0
4265
12.6
D
2010-01-31
Class A Common Stock
4265
11235
D
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)
12.58
2009-12-15
4
M
0
10935
12.58
D
2010-01-31
Class A Common Stock
10935
300
D
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy)
12.59
2009-12-15
4
M
0
300
12.59
D
2010-01-31
Class A Common Stock
300
0
D
Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan or Merger dated January 1, 2001 by and among Issuer, Lasso Acquisition Corporation ("Lasso"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Issuer, and IBP, inc. ("IBP"), all options granted by IBP and outstanding on September 28, 2001 (the date IBP merged with Lasso) converted into options to buy Isser Class A common stock at a predetermined exchange rate.
Represents 37 shares of the Issuer's restricted Class A Common Stock acquired by the Reporting Person pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature under the Tyson Foods, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan since the last statement of changes in Beneficial Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person.  Such acqusition is exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16a-11.
On December 16, 2009, the Issuer entered into a new employment agreement (the "Agreement") with the Reporting Person.  In connection with the Agreement, 9,771 previously reported shares of restricted Class A Common Stock vested on December 16, 2009 and 1,991 shares were cancelled.
On December 16, 2009, pursuant to an election previously made by the Reporting Person, 3,562 shares were sold by the Reporting Person to the Issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting described above in note 3.
Award of restricted Class A Common Stock pursuant to Tyson Foods, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan to vest on December 16, 2012, pursuant to the Agreement.
/s/ R. Read Hudson by Power of Attorney for James V. Lochner
2009-12-17