-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FweVtVTCBzhisT08YROBiSkgAUusENsAhFe2bRcNQ6jMMyvhAuWp5Zqj7lXDN0Rd
 ulhKEG82K0qZmKqtiwEJDg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001123292-07-000846.txt : 20071023
<SEC-HEADER>0001123292-07-000846.hdr.sgml : 20071023
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071023101854
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001123292-07-000846
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071019
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071023
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071023

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITHFIELD FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091388
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEAT PACKING PLANTS [2011]
		IRS NUMBER:				520845861
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		STREET 2:		EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7573653000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		STREET 2:		EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY EQUITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710221

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY REAL ESTATE TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19661113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MURPHY WENDELL H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904450

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15321
		FILM NUMBER:		071184732

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 1087
		CITY:			ROSE HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		910 289 6439

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1087
		CITY:			ROSE HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28458
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMITHFIELD FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904450</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MURPHY WENDELL H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 1087</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROSE HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28458</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Variable prepaid forward contract (put equivalent position)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>243154</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-07-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>243154</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Variable prepaid forward contract (put equivalent position)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>411364</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-06-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>411364</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>411364</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 19, 2007, the reporting person settled his obligation to deliver shares of the issuer's common stock (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) or an equivalent amount of cash (if elected by him) pursuant to a prepaid variable forward contract (&quot;Contract&quot;) entered into on July 15, 2003 with an unaffiliated third party buyer (&quot;Buyer&quot;).  The Contract obligated the reporting person to deliver to buyer up to 243,154 shares of Common Stock (or an equivalent amount of cash, if elected by him) on the Maturity Date of the Contract (July 15, 2008, or an earlier date if the parties agreed to terminate the Contract early).  In exchange for assuming this obligation, the reporting person received a cash payment of $4,783,951.85 as of the date of entering into the Contract.  The reporting person pledged 243,154 shares of Common Stock (the &quot;Pledged Shares&quot;) to secure his obligations under the Contract.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(continuation of prior footnote)  The reporting person retained voting and dividend rights in the Pledged Shares during the period of the pledge.  The Contract provided that the number of shares (or an equivalent amount of cash) deliverable by the reporting person on the Maturity Date would be determined as set forth in footnote (3) below, on the basis of the share price of the Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">(continuation of prior footnote) (a) If the price per share of Common Stock on the Maturity Date were less than or equal to $23.01 (the &quot;Floor Price&quot;), the reporting person would deliver to the Buyer the entire amount of Pledged Shares; (b) If the price per share of Common Stock on the Maturity Date were between the Floor Price and $29.91 (the &quot;Cap Price&quot;), the reporting person would deliver to Buyer a number of shares determined by reference to a formula specified in the Contract; and (c) If the price per share of Common Stock on the Maturity Date were greater than the Cap Price, the reporting person would deliver to Buyer a number of shares determined by reference to a formula specified in the Contract.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">(continuation of prior footnote)  On the Maturity Date, the price per share of the Common Stock was $31.53.  The reporting person delivered to Buyer $6,506,758, the value of 206,358 shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the reporting person's election to settle his delivery obligation under the Contract in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On October 19 2007, the reporting person entered into a prepaid variable forward contract (&quot;Contract&quot;) with an unaffiliated third party buyer (&quot;Buyer&quot;).  The Contract obligated the reporting person to deliver to the Buyer up to 411,364 shares of the issuer's common stock (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) (or an equivalent amount of cash, if elected by him) upon settlement of the Contract (i.e., June 21-25, 2010, or an earlier date if the parties agree to terminate the Contract early).  In exchange for assuming this obligation, the reporting person received a cash payment of $5,030,842 as of the date of entering into the Contract.  The reporting person pledged 411,364 shares of Common Stock (the &quot;Pledged Shares&quot;) to secure his obligations under the Contract, and retained voting and dividend rights in the Pledged Shares during the period of the pledge.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">(continuation of prior footnote)  The number of shares to be delivered to the Buyer upon settlement of the Contract is to be determined as set forth in footnote (7) below, on the basis of the share price of the Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">(continuation of prior footnote)  (a) if the price per share of Common Stock upon settlement is less than or equal to $31.53 (the &quot;Floor Price&quot;), the reporting person would deliver to Buyer the entire amount of Pledged Shares; (b) if the price per share of Common Stock upon settlement is between the Floor Price and $37.83 (the &quot;Cap Price&quot;), the reporting person would deliver to the Buyer a number of shares determined by reference to a formula specified in the Contract; and (c) if the price per share of Common Stock upon settlement were greater than the Cap Price, the reporting person would deliver to Buyer a number of shares determined by reference to a formula specified in the Contract.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark Roberts, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
