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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Q2MTP05orPki2lFOmfr5YA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-050522.txt : 20080828
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-050522.hdr.sgml : 20080828
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080828140454
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-050522
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080828
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080828

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NING GAONING
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001443857

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15321
		FILM NUMBER:		081044942

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		757-365-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd216966.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-27</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001443857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NING GAONING</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 COMMERCE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SMITHFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23430</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock, par value $.50</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael H. Cole, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.POA
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>rrd194242_219511.htm
<DESCRIPTION>NING POA
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
rrd194242_219511.html
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<PRE>
       POWER OF ATTORNEY
       Know all men by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints
Michael H. Cole and Darcy G. McKenzie, or either of them, with full power to
each of them to act
alone, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, to:
(1)	execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's behalf and
submit to the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Form ID, including amendments
thereto, and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and
passwords
enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports
required by
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation
of the SEC
promulgated thereunder;
(2)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer
and/or director of Smithfield Foods, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the
"Company"), any and all
Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder;
(3)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned that
may be necessary
or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and
execute any
amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file such form or amendment with the
SEC
and any stock exchange or similar authority; and
(4)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing that, in the
opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of,
or legally
required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by
such
attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney
shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact
may approve
in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.
       The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or
proper to be
done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to
all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full
power of
substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue of this
power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned
acknowledges
that neither the Company nor any of these attorneys is assuming, nor shall any
of them be
responsible for, the undersigned's obligation to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder.
       This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no
longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's
holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the
undersigned in
a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.
       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to
be
executed as of this __ day of August, 2008.



Gaoning Ning
Signature

Gaoning Ning
Printed name

</PRE>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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