-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HO0r+gkC5lCbPu8kma0LtsWRvDWUSAmo/b1thdjPM57LJg2AmCzgpAtd6M/gu+GV
 zkA9kgk+VM+IbN9LsMLd8A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-011709.txt : 20100224
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-011709.hdr.sgml : 20100224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100224134601
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-011709
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100224

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOLE FOOD CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018169
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION - CROPS [0100]
		IRS NUMBER:				990035300
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE DOLE DRIVE
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91362
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188796600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE DOLE DRIVE
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91362

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DOLE FOOD COMPANY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CASTLE & COOKE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910731

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Weinberg Dennis M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248402

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04455
		FILM NUMBER:		10629157

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4880 SANTA ROSA ROAD
		CITY:			CAMARILLO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93012

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WEINBERG D MARK
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030626
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c96794_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018169</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DOLE FOOD CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DOLE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248402</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Weinberg Dennis M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE DOLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTLAKE VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91362</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4222</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9222</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 4,222 shares were purchased on 2/23/2010 in 12 purchase transactions, each of which was at a price of $11.78 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On October 28, 2009, 5,000 shares of restricted stock (vesting in full on October 28, 2012) were granted to Mr. Weinberg directly, as compensation for services, all as previously reported on Form 4.  Such shares are held directly by Mr. Weinberg.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The 4,222 shares were purchased by the Weinberg Family Trust, 1991, u/t/d January 23, 1991, a living trust of which Mr. Weinberg and his wife are the settlors, trustees and beneficiaries.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey B. Conner, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----