SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Jul. 29, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. You should read these statements in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2012. The information reflects all normal recurring adjustments which we believe are necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for all periods included. Smithfield Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), is the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. We produce and market a wide variety of fresh meat and packaged meats products both domestically and internationally. We conduct our operations through four reportable segments: Pork, Hog Production, International and Corporate, each of which is comprised of a number of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments. The three months ended July 29, 2012 correspond to the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and the three months ended July 31, 2011 correspond to the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Net Income per Share We present dual computations of net income per share. The basic computation is based on weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. The diluted computation reflects the potentially dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, such as stock options and convertible notes, during the period. We excluded stock options for approximately 2.1 million and 1.7 million shares for the three months ended July 29, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively, from the diluted computation because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance on testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The new guidance provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If it is not, no further analysis is required. If it is, the previously prescribed test is required. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to impact our consolidated condensed financial statements.

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

+ References+ Details