October 2, 2013

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated October 2, 2013, of Smithfield Foods, Inc. and are in agreement with the statements contained in the second sentence of the second paragraph and the third paragraph on page 1 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited