DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2012	Nov. 29, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SMITHFIELD FOODS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000091388
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-28
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 28, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		138,696,747