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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001123292-03-000349.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0001123292-03-000349.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903110507
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001123292-03-000349
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITHFIELD FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091388
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEAT PACKING PLANTS [2011]
		IRS NUMBER:				520845861
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		STREET 2:		EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7573653000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COMMERCE STREET
		STREET 2:		EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
		CITY:			SMITHFIELD
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY EQUITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710221

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY REAL ESTATE TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19661113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MURPHY WENDELL H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255072

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15321
		FILM NUMBER:		03877777

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1087
		CITY:			ROSE HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		910 289 6439

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1087
		CITY:			ROSE HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28458
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMITHFIELD FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255072</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MURPHY WENDELL H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 1087</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROSE HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28458</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1901841</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19211</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By limited l
iability company</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1329395</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>208</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By limited liability company</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Th
ese shares are owned by DM Legacy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;DM LLC&quot;), which is wholly owned by the reporting person.</footnote><footnote id="F2">On July 21, 2003, the reporting person transferred 100% of the Class B limited liability company interests of DM LLC, which represent 99% of the reporting person's pecuniary interest in the shares held by DM LLC.  At the time of the transfer, the shares held by DM LLC represented approximately 92% of the total assets held by DM LLC.  The DM LLC Class B interests were transferred to a trust in exchange for a promissory note in the amount of $23,760,000.  The reporting person retains all of the Class A limited liability company interests in DM LLC, which give the reporting person voting and dispositive power over the shares.  </footnote><footnote id="F3">These shares are owned by MurFam Enterprises, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (&quot;MurFam&quot;), in which the reporting person owns a membership interest.  The reporting
 person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of the reporting person's pecuniary interest in MurFam.  This report shall not be deemed an admission for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the shares owned by MurFam other than those shares represented by the reporting person's pecuniary interest in MurFam.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The number of shares reported as directly beneficially owned on the Forms 4 for the dates June 19, 2003 and July 15, 2003 inadvertently did not include 113,436 and 160,100 shares, respectively, that were pledged pursuant to prepaid variable forward contracts entered into by the reported person as reported on those Forms 4.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks>The reporting person may be deemed to be a member of a &quot;group&quot; with Wendell H. Murphy, Harry D. Murphy, Wendy Murphy Crumpler, Joyce Murphy Minchew, Stratton K. Murphy, Marc D. Murphy and Angela Norman Brown for purposes of S
ection 13(d) of the Exchange Act.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Sonia Barros (attorney-in-fact)</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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