-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FTnemJE+5dLPex14R1A6+WMuIZi7hk8lLSf1OxJ7eKCdOcbDDXmB0gggZpT+yQIx
 SUMXr/D/AdaHBT2EUYOmlA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-052257.txt : 20101029
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-052257.hdr.sgml : 20101029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101029215856
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-052257
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101028
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101029
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101029

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Tesoriero Joseph S.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001474867

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04455
		FILM NUMBER:		101153326

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE DOLE DRIVE
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91362

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Tesoriero Jospeh S.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20091020

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c07532_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-28</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001474867</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tesoriero Joseph S.</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2037</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.21</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51963</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the 11,111 shares of restricted stock that vested on October 28, 2010, 2,037 shares were delivered by Mr. Tesoriero to the Company to cover a portion of the withholding tax liability related to such vesting. The delivery occurred at a notional price of $9.21 per share, which was the closing price of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on October 28, 2010. Mr. Tesoriero received no cash in connection with his delivery to the Company of the 2,037 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of these shares (i) 16,667 are restricted and vest in full on October 28, 2012 and (ii) 22,222 are restricted and vest in two equal annual installments commencing on October 28, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">As UGMA Custodian for eldest son's custodial account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As UGMA Custodian for middle son's custodial account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">As UGMA Custodian for youngest son's custodial account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey Conner, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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