Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 03, 2009	May 11, 2011
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Checks outstanding in excess of related book cash	$ 281,000,000	$ 267,000,000
Brand name food products marketed to approximate number of countries worldwide	130
Purchases of treasury shares	207,000,000	48,000,000	19,000,000
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	31,000,000	32,000,000
Goodwill	1,892,000,000	1,893,000,000	1,917,000,000
Goodwill impairment	0	29,000,000	560,000,000
Number of classes of common stock	2
Cash dividends allowable to holders of class B common stock without simultaneous payment to holders of class A common stock	0
Percentage amount of per share cash dividends paid to holders of Class B stock that cannot exceed paid to holders of Class A stock	90.00%
Maximum length of time hedged anticipated transactions	18
Advertising and promotion expenses	552,000,000	505,000,000	491,000,000
Research and development costs	42,000,000	38,000,000	33,000,000
Domestic Operations [Member] | Chicken [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Goodwill	900,000,000
Chicken [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Goodwill	949,000,000	950,000,000	973,000,000
Goodwill impairment	0	29,000,000
Common Class A [Member] | Tyson Limited Partnership And Tyson Family [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Tyson family ownership percentage	2.45%
Tyson Limited Partnership And Tyson Family [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Tyson family total voting power, percentage of outstanding voting stock	70.74%
Common Class B [Member] | Tyson Limited Partnership [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Tyson family ownership percentage	99.97%
Open Market Repurchases [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Purchases of treasury shares	37,000,000	48,000,000
Common Class A [Member] | Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Purchases of treasury shares	170,000,000
Common Class A [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Remaining shares available to repurchase	12.8			22.5
Common shares repurchased during the period	9.7
Common stock, par value	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Votes per share	1
Dividends, per share	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.16
Common Class B [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Votes per share	10
Dividends, per share	$ 0.144	$ 0.144	$ 0.144
Buildings And Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated lives, minimum (years)	10
Estimated lives, maximum (years)	33
Dynamic Fuels [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage, investment in Dynamic Fuels, LLC joint venture	50.00%
Variable interest entity total assets	170,000,000	154,000,000
Variable interest entity property plant and equipment	144,000,000	145,000,000
Variable interest entity total liabilities	116,000,000	107,000,000
Variable interest entity long-term debt	$ 100,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Land And Land Improvements [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated lives, minimum (years)	3
Estimated lives, maximum (years)	20
Machinery And Equipment [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated lives, minimum (years)	3
Estimated lives, maximum (years)	12