Consolidated Statements Of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Equity Attributable To Tyson [Member]	Equity Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests [Member]		Comprehensive Income [Member]	Common Class A [Member]	Common Class B [Member]	Total
Balance, value at Sep. 27, 2008	$ 2,217	$ 3,006	$ 41	$ (233)		$ 29			$ 32	$ 7
Balance, shares at Sep. 27, 2008				15					322	70
Stock-based compensation, value	19			10
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson		(547)									(547)
Dividends paid		(60)							(50)	(10)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest accretion		0
Hedge accounting			6
Investment accounting			10
Currency translation adjustments			(81)
Net change in postretirement liabilities			(10)
Purchase of Tyson Class A common stock, shares				2
Purchase of Tyson Class A common stock, value				(19)
Stock-based compensation, shares				(1)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests						(4)	[1]				(4)
Contributions by (distributions to) noncontrolling interest						9
Net foreign currency translation adjustment and other						(1)
Net income (loss)								(551)			(551)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax								(75)			(75)
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)								(626)
Comprehensive Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest								(4)
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) attributable to Tyson								(622)
Balance, value at Oct. 03, 2009	2,236	2,399	(34)	(242)	4,398	33			32	7	4,431
Balance, shares at Oct. 03, 2009				16					322	70
Stock-based compensation, value	7			61
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson		780									780
Dividends paid		(59)							(49)	(10)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest accretion		(7)
Hedge accounting			12
Investment accounting			0
Currency translation adjustments			27
Net change in postretirement liabilities			(5)
Purchase of Tyson Class A common stock, shares				3
Purchase of Tyson Class A common stock, value				(48)
Stock-based compensation, shares				(4)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests						(6)	[1]				(15)
Contributions by (distributions to) noncontrolling interest						10
Net foreign currency translation adjustment and other						(2)
Net income (loss)								765			765
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax								34			34
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)								799
Comprehensive Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest								(6)
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) attributable to Tyson								805
Balance, value at Oct. 02, 2010	2,243	3,113	0	(229)	5,166	35			32	7	5,201
Balance, shares at Oct. 02, 2010				15					322	70
Stock-based compensation, value	18			70
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tyson		750									750
Dividends paid		(59)							(49)	(10)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest accretion		(3)
Hedge accounting			(17)
Investment accounting			(8)
Currency translation adjustments			(41)
Net change in postretirement liabilities			(13)
Purchase of Tyson Class A common stock, shares				11
Purchase of Tyson Class A common stock, value				(206)
Stock-based compensation, shares				(4)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests						(13)	[1]				(17)
Contributions by (distributions to) noncontrolling interest						8
Net foreign currency translation adjustment and other						(2)
Net income (loss)								733			733
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax								(79)			(79)
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)								654
Comprehensive Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest								(13)
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) attributable to Tyson								667
Balance, value at Oct. 01, 2011	$ 2,261	$ 3,801	$ (79)	$ (365)	$ 5,657	$ 28			$ 32	$ 7	$ 5,685
Balance, shares at Oct. 01, 2011				22					322	70

[1] Excludes net income (loss) related to redeemable noncontrolling interest of $(4) million, $(9) million and $0, for fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.