-----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,
 OtAPZj21d4PWu6NqDTvqp8IkSFUC9YTAvEvP3D86ilL8kz+ls9IwsFTeV7uM0YPi
 MAQSCN74MDFsyZFzAhrsGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-007667.txt : 20030616
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-007667.hdr.sgml : 20030616
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030616142950
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-007667
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030616

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEYSMAN FRANK L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218958

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03344
		FILM NUMBER:		03745297

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SARA LEE CORP
		STREET 2:		70 W MADISON ST
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEE SARA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000023666
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOD & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2000]
		IRS NUMBER:				362089049
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE FIRST NATIONAL PLZ
		STREET 2:		STE 4600
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3127262600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE FIRST NATL PLZ
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4600
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CONSOLIDATED FOODS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850402

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CONSOLIDATED GROCERD CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19731220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000023666</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEE SARA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SLE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218958</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEYSMAN FRANK L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>employee stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.515</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>17500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-06-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-06-16</value
></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>employee stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.515</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>17500</value></transactionShares><transactionVa
lue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Helen N. Kaminski
For Frank L. Meysman pursuant to power of attorney previously filed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----