Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  White Noel W
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/04/2009		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
TYSON FOODS INC [TSN]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr. Group VP Tyson Fresh Meats
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

SPRINGDALE, AR 72762		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Class A Common Stock 55,178
D
 
Class A Common Stock 27,031
I
Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 10/10/2004(1) 10/10/2012 Class A Common Stock 1,008 $ 9.64 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 09/19/2005(1) 09/19/2013 Class A Common Stock 2,400 $ 13.33 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 09/29/2006(1) 09/29/2014 Class A Common Stock 6,000 $ 15.96 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 11/16/2007(1) 11/16/2015 Class A Common Stock 40,000 $ 16.35 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 11/17/2008(1) 11/17/2016 Class A Common Stock 40,000 $ 15.37 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 11/16/2009(1) 11/16/2017 Class A Common Stock 40,000 $ 15.06 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 11/14/2010(1) 11/14/2018 Class A Common Stock 40,000 $ 4.9 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 11/30/2010(2) 11/30/2019 Class A Common Stock 40,000 $ 12.02 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
White Noel W
2200 DON TYSON PARKWAY
SPRINGDALE, AR 72762		       Sr. Group VP Tyson Fresh Meats  

Signatures

Noel White 12/07/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The Stock Options vest at 40% on the second anniversary date of the grant and 20% each year thereafter for the following three years.
(2) The Stock Options vest at 33 1/3% on the first anniversary date of the grant and 33 1/3% for the following two years.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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