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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-11-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340962</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>White Noel W</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>Sr. Grp. VP Fresh Meats</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>772</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39384</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2599</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>59049</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9738</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.36</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49311</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>74500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.36</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-11-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-11-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>74500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>74500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>47933</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>47933</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47933</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </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 Benefical Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person.  Such acquistions are exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On November 14, 2012, the Issuer entered into a new employment agreement (the &quot;Employment Agreement&quot;) with the Reporting Person.  In connection with the Employment Agreement, 27,563 previously reported shares of restricted Class A Common Stock vested on November 26, 2012 and 2,599 shares were cancelled.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to an election made by the Reporting Person,9,738 shares were sold by the Reporting Person to the Issuer on November 26, 2012, to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting described in footnote 2.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The stock options vest at 33 1/3% on the first anniversary date of the grant and 33 1/3% for each of the following two years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Award of performance Class A Common Stock which vests on the fourth business day following the filing of the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2015 fiscal year if the performance metrics described in the applicable Stock Incentive Agreement (the &quot;Incentive Agreement&quot;) are achieved.  The performance metrics are (1) achievement of a three year (fiscal 2013-2015) cumulative EBIT target as set forth in the Incentive Agreement and (2) comparison of the market price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock to a peer group of publicly traded companies selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Issuer over a three year (fiscal 2013-2015) period, as more particularly described in the Incentive Agreement.  If neither of the performance metrics is achieved,the award expires.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R. Read Hudson by Power of Attorney for Noel White</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-11-26
0
0000100493
TYSON FOODS INC
TSN
0001340962
White Noel W
2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY
SPRINGDALE
AR
72762
0
1
0
0
Sr. Grp. VP Fresh Meats
Class A Common Stock
2012-11-21
5
J
0
E
772
0
A
39384
I
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Class A Common Stock
2012-11-26
4
D
0
2599
0
D
59049
D
Class A Common Stock
2012-11-26
4
F
0
9738
19.36
D
49311
D
Non-Qualified Stock Options (Right to Buy)
19.36
2012-11-26
4
A
0
74500
19.36
A
2013-11-26
2022-11-26
Class A Common Stock
74500
74500
D
Performance Stock
2012-11-26
4
A
0
47933
A
Class A Common Stock
47933
47933
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 Benefical Ownership was filed by the Reporting Person.  Such acquistions are exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements pursuant to Rule 16b-3.
On November 14, 2012, the Issuer entered into a new employment agreement (the "Employment Agreement") with the Reporting Person.  In connection with the Employment Agreement, 27,563 previously reported shares of restricted Class A Common Stock vested on November 26, 2012 and 2,599 shares were cancelled.
Pursuant to an election made by the Reporting Person,9,738 shares were sold by the Reporting Person to the Issuer on November 26, 2012, to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting described in footnote 2.
The stock options vest at 33 1/3% on the first anniversary date of the grant and 33 1/3% for each of the following two years.
Award of performance Class A Common Stock which vests on the fourth business day following the filing of the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2015 fiscal year if the performance metrics described in the applicable Stock Incentive Agreement (the "Incentive Agreement") are achieved.  The performance metrics are (1) achievement of a three year (fiscal 2013-2015) cumulative EBIT target as set forth in the Incentive Agreement and (2) comparison of the market price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock to a peer group of publicly traded companies selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Issuer over a three year (fiscal 2013-2015) period, as more particularly described in the Incentive Agreement.  If neither of the performance metrics is achieved,the award expires.
/s/ R. Read Hudson by Power of Attorney for Noel White
2012-11-28