-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VPvbSDQsQ63Ul+l3xc2w+ZL7PUsmUza3SWl3BtSpkiA/FVDnXarEKy2NJrvfGnPO
 Pi8j33XxFwLgL15EshSelw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-057559.txt : 20101201
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-057559.hdr.sgml : 20101201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101201160848
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-057559
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101129
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101201
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Murdock Justin M.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001474864

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04455
		FILM NUMBER:		101224950

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

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>c09170_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-29</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001474864</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Murdock Justin 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>2010-11-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3875</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16875</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-11-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>23250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted stock vests in full on November 29, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Granted as compensation for services.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Of these shares: (a) 3,875 are restricted and vest in full on 11/29/2013; and (b) 13,000 shares are restricted and vest in full on 10/28/2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The stock options vest in three equal annual installments commencing on 11/29/2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey Conner, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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