UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549
                                     
                                 FORM 10-K
                                     
[X]  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934
     For the fiscal year ended October 3, 1998

[ ]  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934
     For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

     Commission File No. 0-3400

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
          (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

            Delaware                                71-0225165
(State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

2210 West Oaklawn Drive, Springdale, Arkansas      72762-6999
(Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (501) 290-4000

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     Title of Each Class      Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
     -------------------      -----------------------------------------
     Class A Common Stock,         New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
       Par Value $.10

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
     Not Applicable

Indicate  by  check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed  all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934  during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to  such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X]  No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to  Item
405  of  Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to  the  best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in part III of this Form 10-K  or  any
amendment to this Form 10-K.  [ ]

On  October  3, 1998, the aggregate market value of the Class A Common  and
Class  B  Common voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant  was
$2,508,274,106 and $2,146,223,295, respectively.

On  October  3,  1998,  there were outstanding 128,296,821  shares  of  the
registrant's  Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value, and 102,645,423  shares
of its Class B Common Stock, $.10 par value.

                            Page 1 of 91 Pages
            The Exhibit Index appears on pages 23 through 29

                    DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The  following documents or the indicated portions thereof are incorporated
herein  by  reference into the indicated portions of this Annual Report  on
Form 10-K: (i) pages 14-44 and back cover of the registrant's Annual Report
to Shareholders for fiscal year ended October 3, 1998 (the "Annual Report")
which  are  filed as Exhibit 13 to this Form 10-K and (ii) the registrant's
definitive   Proxy  Statement  for  the  registrant's  Annual  Meeting   of
Shareholders to be held January 8, 1999 (the "Proxy Statement").

                                  PART I

     Item 1.  Business


       Pages  16  through  23  of  the  Annual  Report  under  the  caption
"Management's Discussion and Analysis."


                                  PART II


       Item   5.   Market  for  Registrant's  Common  Equity  and   Related
Stockholder Matters

      Pages  14  and 15, 29 and 44 of the Annual Report under the  captions
"Eleven-Year  Financial Summary", "Capital Stock"  and  "Closing  Price  of
Company's Common Stock."


     Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

      Pages  14  and 15 of the Annual Report under the caption "Eleven-Year
Financial Summary."


      Item  7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations

       Pages  16  through  23  of  the  Annual  Report  under  the  caption
"Management's Discussion and Analysis."


     Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

      Pages  24  through  41  of  the  Annual  Report  under  the  captions
"Consolidated   Statements  of  Income,"  "Consolidated  Balance   Sheets,"
"Consolidated    Statements   of   Shareholders'   Equity,"   "Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows," "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" and
"Report of Independent Auditors."




                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     2

                                 Part III

     Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

      The  information set forth under the captions "Election of Directors"
and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting" in the Proxy Statement.


     Item 11.  Executive Compensation

      The  information set forth under the caption "Executive  Compensation
and Other Information" in the Proxy Statement.


      Item  12.   Security  Ownership  of  Certain  Beneficial  Owners  and
Management

      The information set forth under the captions "Principal Shareholders"
and "Security Ownership of Management" in the Proxy Statement.


     Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

      The information set forth under the caption "Certain Transactions" in
the Proxy Statement.

































                                     3

                                  PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

General

      Tyson  Foods,  Inc.  and its various subsidiaries (collectively,  the
"Company")  produce,  market  and distribute a  variety  of  food  products
consisting  of  value-enhanced poultry; fresh and  frozen  poultry;  value-
enhanced  seafood products; fresh and frozen seafood products and  prepared
foods  and  other  products  such as flour and corn  tortillas  and  chips.
Additionally,  the  Company  has  live swine,  animal  feed  and  pet  food
ingredients  operations.  The Company's integrated  operations  consist  of
breeding  and  rearing  chickens,  harvesting  seafood,  as  well  as   the
processing,  further-processing and marketing of these food  products.  The
Company's  products are marketed and sold to national and regional  grocery
chains,  regional grocery wholesalers, clubs and warehouse stores, military
commissaries, industrial food processing companies, national  and  regional
chain restaurants or their distributors, international export companies and
domestic distributors who service restaurants, foodservice operations  such
as  plant  and school cafeterias, convenience stores, hospitals  and  other
vendors.  Sales  are  made  by  the  Company's  sales  staffs  located   in
Springdale,  Arkansas,  in  regions throughout the  United  States  and  in
several  foreign  countries. Additionally, sales  to  the  military  and  a
portion  of  sales  to  international markets are made through  independent
brokers  and trading companies. The Company conducts the major  portion  of
its  business activities on a vertically integrated basis and considers its
business  to be one industry segment, that of "food products." The  Company
commenced business in 1935, was incorporated in Arkansas in 1947,  and  was
reincorporated in Delaware in 1986.

Description

      Originally,  the  Company  was a producer and  distributor  of  fresh
chicken.  The  Company developed a strategy to reduce  the  impact  of  the
commodity  market  of the fresh chicken business through value-enhancement.
As  the  industry  leader in value-enhanced poultry products,  the  Company
utilizes  national and regional advertising, special promotions  and  brand
identification,  and  meets the varying demands of  its  customers  through
capital  expenditures  and strategic acquisitions.  With  further-processed
poultry  products, grain costs as a percentage of total product  costs  are
reduced  because  of the value added to the products by cutting,  deboning,
cooking, packaging and/or freezing the poultry.















                                     4


      The  Company's integrated poultry processes include genetic research,
breeding,   hatching,  rearing,  ingredient  procurement,   feed   milling,
veterinary  and  other technical services, and related  transportation  and
delivery  services.  The  Company contracts  with  independent  growers  to
maintain the Company's flocks of breeder chicks which, when grown, lay  the
eggs  which the Company transfers to its hatcheries and hatch into  broiler
chicks.  Newly hatched broiler chicks are vaccinated and then delivered  to
independent contract growers who care for and feed the broiler chicks until
they  reach  processing weight, usually from the end of the fourth  to  the
eighth  week.  During  the  broiler growout period,  the  Company  provides
growers with feed, vitamins and medication for the broilers, if needed,  as
well   as  supervisory  and  technical  services.  The  broilers  are  then
transported  by  the Company to its nearby processing plants.  The  Company
processed  approximately  6.4 billion pounds  of  consumer  poultry  during
fiscal 1998.
                                     
     The Company's farrow to finish swine operations, which include genetic
and  nutritional research, breeding, farrowing and feeder pig finishing and
the marketing of live swine to regional and national packers, are conducted
in  Alabama,  Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina and Oklahoma. The  Company
sold  approximately 2.0 million head of market weight live swine in  fiscal
1998.

     The  Company is the leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor  of
branded  surimi-based seafood offerings including analog crabmeat, lobster,
shrimp and scallops. Additionally, the Company's seafood operations consist
of  one  of the largest catching and at-sea processing fleets in the  North
Pacific.  These  vessels harvest a wide range of species of bottomfish  and
shellfish  year-round off the coasts of Alaska, Washington and Oregon.  The
catch  is  either processed at sea or in shore-based processing  facilities
into a variety of product forms.

     The  Company's  prepared foods group, consisting of Mexican  Original,
Culinary Foods and Mallard's Food, produce flour and corn tortilla products
and  specialty pasta and meat dishes, for restaurants, airlines  and  other
major customers.

     The  Company's  by-products operations convert  inedible  poultry  by-
products into high-grade pet food and animal feed ingredients.













                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     5

Sources of Revenue

      The  principal  revenue sources of the Company include value-enhanced
poultry  products,  fresh  and  frozen  poultry  products,  prepared   food
products,  frozen dinner products, seafood products, live swine operations,
animal  foods,  by-products, and other products. In the  first  quarter  of
1997,  the  Company sold its beef further-processing plants and closed  its
pork  further-processing  plant. Revenue for 1996  includes  value-enhanced
beef and pork products. The following table sets forth the relative sources
of the Company's revenues for the last three fiscal years.

                                                    For Fiscal Year Ended
                                                    ---------------------
                                                     1998   1997   1996
                                                     ----   ----   ----
Consumer Poultry(1)                                   82%    83%    78%
Prepared Foods(2)                                      4      4      5
Seafood (3)                                            3      4      5
Live Swine and Other                                  11      9     12
                                                     ---    ---    ---
Total                                                100%   100%   100%
                                                     ===    ===    ===

(1)   Includes  products  such as chicken patties and  nuggets,  pre-cooked
chicken, individually-quick-frozen chicken segments, pre-packaged and  pre-
priced  poultry,  Cornish  game hens and other poultry  products  to  which
certain  processes  are  added  to enhance their  value  to  the  Company's
customers.  Also  includes fresh and frozen poultry products  sold  without
value enhancements.

(2)   Includes flour and corn tortillas, corn chips, taco shells and filled
tortilla specialty items; premium frozen dinners and other specialty items.

(3)  Includes  surimi-based  products  as  well  as  breaded  and  battered
seafood, fillets and crab.

Marketing and Distribution

      The  Company seeks to develop and increase the demand for and  market
share  of a product or product line through concentrated national and local
advertising  and other promotional efforts, stressing product  quality  and
brand  identification  and  meeting  specific  customer  requirements.  The
Company's  principal marketing strategy is to identify target  markets  for
value-enhanced  food  products consisting primarily  of  poultry,  tortilla
products  and  seafood.  The  Company concentrates  production,  sales  and
marketing  efforts in order to appeal to and enhance the demand from  those
markets. The Company utilizes its national distribution system and customer
support services to achieve a dominant market position for its products and
identifies distinct markets through trade and consumer research.

      The  Company's nationwide distribution system utilizes a  network  of
food  distributors which is supported by cold storage warehouses  owned  or
leased  by  the  Company,  by public cold storage  facilities  and  by  the
Company's  transportation  system. The  Company  ships  products  from  two
Company-owned  major  frozen food distribution  centers  having  a  storage
capacity of approximately 58 million pounds, from a network of public  cold
storages, from other owned or leased facilities or directly from plants.

                                     6

The Company has a total frozen storage capacity in excess of 132.5 million
pounds,   excluding   public  or  outside  cold  storage.   The   Company's
distribution centers facilitate accumulating frozen products so that it can
fill  and  consolidate  less-than-truckload orders  into  full  truckloads,
thereby  decreasing  shipping costs while increasing customer  service.  In
addition, customers are provided with a selection of products that  do  not
require  large volume orders. The Company's distribution system enables  it
to   supply  large  or  small  quantities  of  products  to  meet  customer
requirements anywhere in the continental United States.

     The Company's food products are sold primarily in three broad domestic
markets  consisting  of  foodservice,  retail  and  wholesale  clubs.   The
foodservice, retail and wholesale club markets may, in some cases, overlap.
The Company's food products are also sold internationally.

      In  the  foodservice market, the Company sells poultry,  seafood  and
tortilla  products.  Operators serving these  products  include  commercial
restaurants,  business/industry,  colleges/universities,  national/regional
chains, hotels/lodging, primary/secondary schools, health/elderly care  and
other  foodservice  accounts.  The  Company's  products  are  sold  through
foodservice  and  specialty distributors who deliver to  the  above  listed
operators.

       Foodservice  products  are  sold  under  the  following  brands  and
registered  trademarks: Tyson, Honey Stung, Tyson's Pride, HoneyBest,  Wing
Stingers,  W.W.  Flyers,  Signature Specialties, Flavor-Redi,  Lady  Aster,
Quality  Cuisine, Our Finest, Mexican Original, McCarty Foods, Louis  Kemp,
Arctic  Ice, Enterprise, Crab Delights, Lobster Delights, Ocean Master  and
Sure Salad.

      Foodservice products include: (a) poultry items such as individually-
quick-frozen segments (IQF), ready-to-cook and fully cooked fried  chicken,
fully cooked breaded and glazed wings, cooked and ready-to-cook breaded and
unbreaded tenderloins, breaded and unbreaded patties and chunks (cooked and
ready-to-cook),  oven roasted chicken, stuffed breast specialties,  Cornish
hens,  flavor  marinated breasts, fully cooked diced, pulled  and  shredded
chicken  products, breaded breast and thigh pieces, bites and strips;  fast
food cut-up chicken and marinated deli-chicken; (b) tortilla items such  as
flour  and corn tortillas and chips; and (c) seafood items such as  surimi,
snow crab, king crab, pollock, cod and several species of flatfish.

     In the retail market the Company sells a wide variety of food products
to  customers  that  sell  food products for  at-home  consumption.   These
customers  include  grocery store chains, independent  grocery  stores  and
grocery wholesalers.

      Tyson, Weaver, Tyson Holly Farms, Mexican Original, Louis Kemp,  Crab
Delights,  Lobster Delights, JAC Creative Foods, Captain JAC,  SeaFest  and
Mallard's  are registered trademarks under which the Company  sells  retail
products.

      Retail  products  include: (a) frozen prepared  foods  consisting  of
separate  lines  of  Tyson  breaded chicken patties,  chunks,  fillets  and
tenders;  Weaver  breaded chicken tenders, nuggets,  patties  and  fillets;
Tyson  premium  plated  dinners; Tyson and Weaver flavored  chicken  wings;
Tyson  complete  meal  kits; Tyson premium pot pies;  Tyson  and  Mallard's
meals;  Tyson individually-quick-frozen chicken  parts and breaded  chicken

                                     7

patties and chunks;  (b) refrigerated prepared foods consisting of separate
lines  of Tyson roasted ready-to-eat chicken; Tyson and Weaver sliced lunch
meat;  Weaver  hot dogs; Tyson and Weaver deli meats; and Mexican  Original
tortillas  and  chips;(c) refrigerated Tyson Holly Farms  fresh  tray  pack
chicken;  (d)  frozen and refrigerated Tyson Cornish  game  hens;  and  (e)
seafood  products  which are marketed under the Louis Kemp  brand  of  Crab
Delights and Lobster Delights, as well as the JAC Creative Foods brands  of
Captain JAC and SeaFest.

     In the wholesale club market the Company designs and markets a variety
of  products  targeted  to small foodservice operators  and  consumers  who
frequent  club  stores.  These  products  are  aimed  at  both  foodservice
operators who buy in small quantities and want to cut costs of storage  and
final distribution, as well as retail consumers willing to buy larger  than
normal  quantities  to  realize cost savings.  The  Company  sells  several
categories  of  products including: IQF chicken, fresh tray  pack  chicken,
refrigerated  roasted  ready-to-eat chicken,  frozen  value-added  chicken,
canned chicken and surimi-based seafood products.

      The Company's international division markets and sells throughout the
world  the  full line of Tyson products, including poultry,  prepared  food
products  and seafood. The international division exported to 56  countries
in  fiscal  1998. Major markets include Canada, China, Georgia,  Guatemala,
Japan,  Puerto Rico, Russia and Singapore as well as certain Middle Eastern
countries and countries in the Caribbean.

      The  Company continues to believe that Asia offers potential in terms
of   developing  fully-integrated  poultry  facilities.  A  memorandum   of
understanding has been signed with the Kuok Group to explore development of
poultry production and processing complexes in China. The Company has  also
established  a joint venture called Fil-Am Foods, Inc. with Aboitiz  Equity
Ventures,  Inc.  and  PM Nutrition Company, Inc., a  subsidiary  of  Purina
Mills,  Inc.,  to  create  a commercial feed and  swine  operation  in  the
Philippines.  Meanwhile, the Company's joint venture  operation  in  Mexico
continues  to  grow  rapidly  under improving  economic  conditions.  Cobb-
Vantress, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into a joint venture
agreement with a company to build a 180 thousand capacity breeder  farm  in
China.

Raw Materials and Sources of Supply

      The  primary  raw  materials  used by  the  Company  in  its  poultry
operations  consist  of  feed ingredients, cooking  ingredients,  packaging
materials  and cryogenic agents. The Company believes that its  sources  of
supply  for  these  materials are adequate for its present  needs  and  the
Company does not anticipate any difficulty in acquiring these materials  in
the  future. While the Company produces substantially all of its  inventory
of  breeder  chickens and live broilers, it has the capability to  purchase
live,   ice-packed   or   deboned  poultry  to  meet   poultry   production
requirements.

      In  addition,  raw  material requirements for the  Company's  seafood
operations  are  met  by either purchasing in the open  market  or  by  the
Company's  vessels  harvesting a wide range of species  of  bottomfish  and
shellfish off the coasts of Alaska, Washington and Oregon.   A large supply
of  bottomfish,  one  of the principal groups of fish harvested  for  human
consumption, is found in the 200-mile U.S. exclusive  economic zone off the

                                     8

coast of Alaska. This area also provides a significant quantity of crab for
commercial  harvesting; however, crab quotas have been severely limited  in
recent  years.  Following passage of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation  and
Management  Act  of 1976 (the "Magnuson Act"), the United  States  extended
control over the management of offshore fishing resources from a 12-mile to
a  200-mile  exclusive  economic zone by, among other things,  establishing
annual catch limits and allocating the available resources between U.S. and
foreign  catchers and processors. As a result of these government  actions,
the Company's ability to harvest seafood is subject to these limitations.

Patents and Trademarks

      The  Company  has registered a number of trademarks relating  to  its
products  which  either  have  been approved  or  are  in  the  process  of
application.  Because the Company does a significant amount of  brand  name
and  product  line  advertising to promote its products, it  considers  the
protection of such trademarks to be important to its marketing efforts. The
Company has also developed non-public proprietary information regarding its
production  processes  and  other  product-related  matters.  The   Company
utilizes  internal procedures and safeguards to protect the confidentiality
of such information, and where appropriate, seeks patent protection for the
technology it utilizes.

Seasonal Demand

      The demand for the Company's products generally increases during  the
spring  and summer months and generally decreases during the winter months.
Because  of the somewhat seasonal character of the Company's business,  the
Company  may  increase its finished product inventories during  the  winter
months in anticipation of increased spring and summer demands.

Industry Practices

      The Company's agreements with its customers are generally short-term,
verbal  agreements  due primarily to the nature of its  products,  industry
practice and the fluctuation in demand and price for such products.

Customer Relations

      No  single customer of the Company accounts for more than ten percent
of the Company's consolidated revenues, and the loss of any single customer
would  not  have  a  material  adverse effect on  the  Company's  business.
Although any extended discontinuance of sales to any major customer  could,
if  not  replaced, have an impact on the Company's operations, the  Company
does not anticipate any such occurrences due to the demand for its products
and its ability to obtain new customers.

Backlog of Orders

     There is no significant backlog of unfilled orders for the Company's
products.

Competition

      The Company's food products compete with those of other national  and
regional   food   producers  and  processors  and  certain  prepared   food
manufacturers. Additionally, the Company's food products compete in

                                     9

international markets in Europe, South America, Central America and the Far
East.  The  Company's principal marketing and competitive  strategy  is  to
identify   target  markets  for  value-enhanced  products,  to  concentrate
production,  sales and marketing efforts in order to appeal to and  enhance
the  demand  from  those  markets and, utilizing its national  distribution
system and customer support services, to achieve a dominant market position
for  its  products.  Past  efforts  have  indicated  that  customer  demand
generally  can  be  increased  and sustained  through  application  of  the
Company's marketing strategy, as supported by its distribution system.

Research and Development

     The Company conducts continuous research and development activities to
improve  the  strains  of  primary  poultry  breeding  stock,  the  genetic
qualities  of  swine,  and  finished product development.  Additionally,  a
separate  staff  of  research and development personnel  is  maintained  to
develop and provide for product needs. The annual cost of such research and
development programs is less than one percent of total consolidated  annual
sales.

Regulation

      The  Company's facilities for processing poultry and for housing live
poultry and swine are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws
relating  to  the  protection  of  the  environment,  including  provisions
relating  to the discharge of materials into the environment,  and  to  the
health  and  safety  of its employees. The Company's  poultry  and  Mexican
Original  processing  and  distribution  facilities  are  also  subject  to
extensive  inspection  and regulation by the United  States  Department  of
Agriculture. Additionally, the Company's poultry processing facilities  are
participants in the government's pilot Hazardous Analysis Critical  Control
Point  (HACCP)  program.  The  cost  of  compliance  with  such  laws   and
regulations  has  not  had  a material adverse effect  upon  the  Company's
capital  expenditures,  earnings or competitive  position  and  it  is  not
anticipated to have a material adverse effect in the future.

      Fishing activities and seafood processing activities of the Company's
seafood operations are closely regulated by the United States Department of
Commerce  and  various  other  state  and  governmental  agencies.    These
agencies,  among  other  things, establish  fishing  seasons  and  resource
depletion  restrictions and regulate legal gear types.  Violations  of  the
Magnuson  Act  and state laws can result in substantial penalties,  ranging
from  fines  to  seizure  of catch and vessels. In  addition,  the  seafood
operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws relating to
the  protection  of  the  environment and the  health  and  safety  of  its
employees.

      To  provide consumer reassurance of product integrity and safety,  to
create a quality point of difference from the competition, and to assume  a
position  of  measured  industry leadership in  production  standards,  the
Company's seafood operation voluntarily complies with certain United States
Department  of  Commerce regulations which enable it  to  show  the  United
States  Department  of  Commerce seal of approval  (PUFI)  on  its  primary
products.  Three of the  Company's  seafood  manufacturing  facilities  are
United States Department of Commerce inspected and are participants in  the
HACCP program.


                                    10

Employees and Labor Relations

As  of  October 3, 1998, the Company employed approximately 70,500 persons.
The Company believes that its relations with its workforce are good.

Set forth below is a listing of the Company facilities which have employees
subject to a collective bargaining agreement together with the name of  the
union party to the collective bargaining agreement, the number of employees
at  the  facility subject thereto and the expiration date of the collective
bargaining agreement currently in effect.

Location                   Union      No. of People      Expiration Date
- --------                   -----      -------------      ---------------
Albert Lea, MN              UFCW           350           January 24, 1999
Albertville, AL             UFCW           900           December 31, 1998
Ashland, AL                 UFCW           750           February 24, 1999
Berlin, MD                  UFCW           450           December 31, 2001
Berlin, MD                Teamsters        100           December 16, 2001
Buena Vista, GA            RWDSU         1,300           November 4, 2000
Carthage, TX                UFCW           700           November 11, 2000
Center, TX                  UFCW         1,025           November 4, 2000
Chicago, IL             Truck Drivers    1,100           October 6, 2001
Cleveland, MS              RWDSU           475           February 20, 2000
Corydon, IN                 UFCW           375           December 4, 1998
Corydon, IN             Steelworkers        75           October 10, 1999
Dardanelle, AR              UFCW         1,000           November 3, 2001
Gadsden/Blountsville, AL  Teamsters         23           March 31, 2001
Gadsden, AL                RWDSU         1,200           November 8, 2001
Glen Allen, VA              UFCW           850           November 3, 2001
Henderson, KY               UFCW         1,150           April 21, 2001
Hope, AR                    UFCW         1,400           March 3, 1999
Jackson, MS                 UFCW         1,050           December 31, 1999
Jacksonville, FL          Teamsters        650           December 31, 1999
Noel, MO                    UFCW         1,225           April 25, 2000
Pine Bluff, AR              UFCW           250           October 10, 1999
Shelbyville, TN            RWDSU           950           November 12, 1999
Shelbyville, TN           Teamsters         35           July 14, 2001
Social Circle, GA         GMPPAW           200           November 30, 1998
Wilkesboro, NC            Teamsters         35           November 4, 2001
Wilkesboro, NC            Teamsters         25           November 4, 2001
Wilkesboro, NC            Teamsters        125           November 4, 2001

The  Company  has not experienced any strike or work stoppage which  had  a
material impact on operations.














                                    11

CAUTIONARY  STATEMENTS  RELEVANT  TO FORWARD-LOOKING  INFORMATION  FOR  THE
PURPOSE  OF  "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES  LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995

     The Company and its representatives may from time to time make written
or  oral forward-looking statements with respect to their current views and
estimates  of  future economic circumstances, industry conditions,  company
performance  and  financial results. These forward-looking  statements  are
subject to a  number of  factors and uncertainties  which  could  cause the
Company's  actual  results and experiences to differ  materially  from  the
anticipated  results  and  expectations expressed in  such  forward-looking
statements.  The  Company  wishes to caution readers  not  to  place  undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
made.

     Among the factors that may affect the operating results of the Company
are  the following:  (i) fluctuations in the cost and availability  of  raw
materials,  such as feed grain costs; (ii) changes in the availability  and
relative  costs of labor and contract growers; (iii) market conditions  for
finished   products,  including  the  supply  and  pricing  of  alternative
proteins; (iv) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs; (v) the
ability  of  the Company to make effective acquisitions and to successfully
integrate  newly acquired businesses into existing operations;  (vi)  risks
associated  with leverage, including cost increases due to rising  interest
rates;  (vii)  changes  in  regulations  and  laws,  including  changes  in
accounting  standards, environmental laws, occupational, health and  safety
laws, and laws regulating fishing and seafood processing activities; (viii)
access  to  foreign  markets  together with  foreign  economic  conditions,
including  currency fluctuations; and (ix) the effect of,  or  changes  in,
general economic conditions.

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

      The  Company currently has production and distribution operations  in
the  following  states:  Alabama,  Alaska, Arkansas,  California,  Florida,
Georgia,  Illinois,  Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,  Minnesota,  Mississippi,
Missouri,  North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South  Carolina,
Tennessee,  Texas,  Virginia  and Washington.  Additionally,  the  Company,
either  directly  or  through  its  subsidiaries,  has  facilities  in   or
participates  in  joint  venture operations in Argentina,  Brazil,  Canada,
China,  Denmark,  France,  India, Indonesia, Ireland,  Japan,  Mexico,  the
Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

      The  principal  poultry  operations of  the  Company  consist  of  58
processing  plants.  These  plants  are  devoted  to  various   phases   of
slaughtering, dressing, cutting, packaging, deboning or further-processing.
The total slaughter capacity is approximately 43 million head per week.

     To support the above facilities the Company operates 37 feed mills and
65  broiler  hatcheries with sufficient capacity to meet the needs  of  the
poultry  growout  operations.  In addition, the Company owns  poultry  cold
storage facilities with a capacity of approximately 126.8 million pounds.

      The  Company's prepared foods operations consist of eight  processing
plants.   These operations are supported by five additional freezer storage
facilities.


                                    12

      The  Company's seafood operations consist of 23 catching  and  at-sea
processing  vessels  along with two freighters. The  at-sea  processing  is
supported  by  nine  shore-based  processing  plants,  five  of  which  are
dedicated to surimi processing.

      The  Company's animal feed and pet food processing operations consist
of eleven rendering plants with the capacity to produce 26.6 million pounds
of  animal protein products per week supported by three freezer facilities.
Fourteen  ground pet food processing operations in connection with  poultry
processing  plants are capable of producing 7.3 million pounds  of  product
per week.
                                     
     The Company's live swine operations consist of 158 swine farrowing and
nursery units and 385 swine finishing units. These swine growout operations
are  supported by three dedicated feed mills supplemented by the production
from  the poultry operations' feed mills. In addition, the Company operates
a grain drying and two storage facilities in support of its swine feed mill
operations.

      The Company owns its major operating facilities and vessels with  the
following  exceptions: one poultry emulsified operation  facility  and  one
poultry  emulsified plant are leased month to month, 355 breeder farms  are
leased  under agreements expiring at various dates through 1999,  52  swine
farrowing and nursery units and 318 swine finishing units are leased  under
one  to  ten  year  renewable lease agreements and two  seafood  processing
plants are leased under agreements expiring in 2000 and 2001.

       Management  believes  that  the  Company's  present  facilities  are
generally  adequate and suitable for its current purposes. In general,  the
Company's facilities are fully utilized. However, seasonal fluctuations  in
inventories  and production may occur as a reaction to market  demands  for
certain products.  The Company regularly engages in construction and  other
capital  improvement projects intended to expand capacity and  improve  the
efficiency of its processing and support facilities.


ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

           On  December 29, 1997, the Company entered into a plea agreement
resolving  the Office of Independent Counsel's (OIC) investigation  of  the
Company  in  connection  with  its investigation  of  former  Secretary  of
Agriculture  Michael Espy.  The Company entered a guilty plea to  a  single
count  of  violating  the illegal gratuity statute, 18  U.S.C.   201(c)(1).
The  Company was sentenced on January 12, 1998 to pay a fine of $4 million,
costs  of  prosecution of $2 million and was placed on probation  for  four
years.   At  the  time of its plea, the Company also entered  a  Compliance
Agreement with OIC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture requiring  it  to
implement a compliance program.

           Following  the entry of its guilty plea, the Company and  others
were  named as defendants in a putative class action suit brought on behalf
of  all  individuals  who sold beef cattle to beef packers  for  processing
between  certain  dates  in 1993 and 1998.  This  action,  captioned  Wayne
Newton,  et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., U.S. District Court, Northern
District  of  Iowa,  Civil  Action  No. 98-30,  asserts  claims  under  the
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations  statute as well as a common
- -law  claim   for  intentional  interference  with   prospective   economic

                                    13

advantage.  Plaintiffs allege that the gratuities which were the subject of
the Company's plea resulted in a competitive advantage for poultry products
vis-a-vis  beef products.  Plaintiffs request trebled damages in excess  of
$3 billion,  plus attorney's  fees and costs.  While management is not able
at  the  present time to determine the outcome of this matter,  based  upon
information currently available, management presently does not believe that
this  lawsuit has merit and will not have a material adverse effect on  the
Company's financial position or its results of operations.

On  July  28,  1997,  Hudson received notice from the  U.S.  Department  of
Justice  (DOJ) that it was prepared to bring an action against  Hudson  for
the  alleged  violation  of the Clean Water Act at  Hudson's  Berlin,  Md.,
poultry  processing  facility.  The DOJ alleged that  over  the  past  five
years,  Hudson had repeatedly discharged pollutants in quantities in excess
of  its  National  Pollutant Discharge Elimination  System  (NPDES)  permit
limits, violated  monitoring and sampling  requirements of its NPDES permit
and  failed to provide notice of NPDES violations.  On  September 19, 1997,
Hudson  entered  into  an  agreement in principle  with  the  DOJ  for  the
settlement  of these claims.  On May 8, 1998, a Consent Decree between  the
United  States,  Hudson and the Company was filed with  the  U.S.  District
Court together  with a Complaint  alleging these violations. On October  6,
1998, the U.S. District Court approved and entered the Consent Decree.  The
Consent Decree, while stating that Hudson denies the violations alleged  in
the  Complaint, provides for the payment to the United States of $4 million
and  the  expenditure of $2 million in supplemental environmental  projects
(SEPs).

On or about July 23, 1998, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
filed  a  Complaint for Injunctive Relief and Civil Penalty (the Complaint)
against  the Company in the Circuit Court of Worcester County, Md. for  the
alleged  violation  of certain Maryland water pollution control  laws  with
respect  to  the  Company's land application of  sludge  to  Company  owned
agricultural land near Berlin, Md. The MDE seeks, in addition to injunctive
and equitable relief, civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each day
the  Company  had  allegedly operated in violation of  the  Maryland  water
pollution  control  laws.   The  Company has  only  recently  received  the
Complaint,  is  reviewing  and  researching the  factual  matters  asserted
therein,  and intends to vigorously defend against the same.   The  Company
does  not believe any penalties, if imposed, would have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations or financial condition.


ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     Not applicable.













                                    14

Executive Officers of the Company

Officers  of  the  Company serve one year terms  from  the  date  of  their
election, or until their successors are appointed and qualified. The  name,
title,  age  and  year  of  initial election to  executive  office  of  the
Company's executive officers are listed below:
                                                                      Year
Name                      Title                               Age    Elected
- ----                      -----                               ---    -------
Don Tyson                 Senior Chairman of the              68     1963
                          Board of Directors                         
                                                                     
John H. Tyson             Chairman of the                     45     1984
                          Board of Directors                         
                                                                     
Wayne Britt               Chief Executive Officer             49     1977
                                                                     
Donald E. Wray            President and Chief Operating       61     1979
                          Officer
                                                                     
Greg Lee                  Executive Vice President, Sales,    51     1993
                          Marketing and Technical Services           
                                                                     
David Purtle              Executive Vice President,           54     1985
                          Operations, Transportation and             
                          Warehousing                                
                                                                     
Steven Hankins            Executive Vice President and        40     1997
                          Chief Financial Officer                    
                                                                     
Dennis Leatherby          Senior Vice President,              38     1990
                          Finance and Treasurer                      
                                                                     
James G. Ennis            Vice President, Controller and      53     1996
                          Chief Accounting Officer                   
                                                                     
David L. Van Bebber       Vice President and                  42     1990
                          Director of Legal Services                 
                                                                     
R. Read Hudson            Secretary                           40     1998
                                                                     
                                                                     
Louis C. Gottsponer, Jr.  Assistant Secretary and             34     1998
                          Director of Investor Relations             
                                                                     













                                    15

John  H. Tyson is the son of Don Tyson. No other family relationships exist
among  the  above officers. Mr. Don Tyson was appointed Senior Chairman  of
the  Board of Directors in 1995 after previously serving as Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. John H. Tyson was appointed Chairman
of  the  Board of Directors in 1998 after serving as Vice Chairman  of  the
Board  of Directors since 1997 and President, Beef and Pork Division  since
1993. Mr. Britt was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1998 after serving
as  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1996, Senior
Vice  President,  International Sales and Marketing  since  1994  and  Vice
President,  Wholesale  Club Division since 1992.  Mr.  Wray  was  appointed
President  and  Chief  Operating Officer in 1995  after  serving  as  Chief
Operating  Officer  since  1991.  Mr.  Lee  was  appointed  Executive  Vice
President, Sales, Marketing and Technical Services in 1995 after serving as
Senior  Vice  President, Sales and Marketing since  1993.  Mr.  Purtle  was
appointed   Executive  Vice  President,  Operations,   Transportation   and
Warehousing  in  1995  after serving as Senior Vice  President,  Operations
since 1991. Mr. Hankins was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 1998 after
serving  as  Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Shared  Services
since  1997 and Vice President, Management Information Systems since  1993.
Mr. Leatherby was appointed Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer in
1998  after  serving as Vice President and Treasurer since 1997,  Treasurer
since 1994 and Assistant Treasurer since 1990. Mr. Ennis was appointed Vice
President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in 1996 after serving as
Corporate  Tax  Manager  since  1986. Mr. Van  Bebber  was  appointed  Vice
President and Director of Legal Services in 1998 after serving as Assistant
Secretary  since 1990.  Mr. Hudson was appointed Secretary  in  1998  after
serving  as  Corporate  Counsel since 1992.  Mr. Gottsponer  was  appointed
Assistant  Secretary  and  Director of Investor  Relations  in  1998  after
serving  as  Corporate Finance Manager since 1996 and  Cash  Manager  since
1993.




























                                    16

                                  PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
         MATTERS

      The  Company  currently  has issued and outstanding  two  classes  of
capital  stock,  Class A Common Stock (the "Class A  Stock")  and  Class  B
Common Stock (the "Class B Stock"). Information regarding the voting rights
and  dividend  restrictions are set forth on page 29 of the  Annual  Report
under the caption "Capital Stock," which information is incorporated herein
by reference.

      On October 3, 1998, there were approximately 33,683 holders of record
of  the  Company's Class A Stock and 17 holders of record of the  Company's
Class B Stock, excluding holders in the security position listings held  by
nominees. The Class A Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange  under
the symbol "TSN." No public trading market currently exists for the Class B
Stock. Information regarding the high and low closing prices of the Class A
Stock  is set forth on pages 14 and 15 and in the table on page 44  of  the
Annual  Report  under  the  captions "Eleven-Year  Financial  Summary"  and
"Closing   Price   of  Company's  Common  Stock,"  which   information   is
incorporated herein by reference.

      The  Company has paid uninterrupted quarterly dividends on its common
stock  each  year since 1977. On January 10, 1997, the Board  of  Directors
increased the post-split annual dividend rate on Class A Stock to $.10  per
share  and fixed an annual dividend rate of $.09 per share for the Class  B
Stock,  effective with the quarterly dividend paid on March 15,  1997.  The
Company  has continued to pay quarterly dividends at the same rates through
fiscal 1998.

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     See the information reflected under the caption "Eleven-Year Financial
Summary"  on  pages  14 and 15 of the Annual Report, which  information  is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

       See  the  information  reflected  under  the  caption  "Management's
Discussion and Analysis" on pages 16 through 23 of the Annual Report, which
information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISKS

      Market  risks  relating to the Company's operations result  primarily
from  changes  in  interest  rates, foreign exchange  rates  and  commodity
prices,  as well as credit risk concentrations. To address these risks  the
Company  enters into various hedging transactions as described  below.  The
Company does not use financial instruments for trading purposes and is  not
a party to any leveraged derivatives.






                                    17

Commodities Risk

      The Company is a purchaser of certain commodities, primarily corn and
soybeans.   The  Company periodically uses commodity futures and  purchased
options  for  hedging purposes to reduce the effect of  changing  commodity
prices  and  as  a  mechanism to procure the grains.   The  contracts  that
effectively  meet  risk  reductions and correlation criteria  are  recorded
using hedge accounting.  Gains and losses on closed hedge transactions  are
recorded as a component of the underlying inventory purchase.

The  following table provides information about the Company's corn, soybean
oil  and  other  feed ingredient inventory and futures contracts  that  are
sensitive to changes in commodity prices.  The table presents the  carrying
amounts  and fair values at October 3, 1998. Additionally, for the  futures
contracts, the latest which matures 15 months from the reporting date,  the
table  presents  the  notional amounts in units of purchase,  the  weighted
average  contract  prices and the total dollar contract amounts.   Contract
amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments and quantity of corn
and soybean oil to be exchanged under the futures contracts.

(dollars and volume in millions, except per unit amounts)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Volume  Contract/  Weighted      Fair   Weighted
                                Book Value Average Price  Value   Average
                                             Per Unit            Price Per
                                                                    Unit
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodity Inventory        -       $36.0     $  -         $36.0   $ -

Corn Futures Contracts
(volume in bushels)
Long (Buy) Positions      7.5       17.4       2.33        17.0     2.27
Short (Sell) Positions    9.7       20.5       2.11        20.2     2.08

Soybean Oil Futures Contracts
(volume in cwt)
Long (Buy) Positions      0.1        2.1      24.24         2.1    24.05
Short (Sell) Positions    0.1        1.5      24.40         1.5    24.06
===========================================================================
                                     

Foreign Currency and Interest Rate Risks

       The  Company  periodically  enters  into  foreign  exchange  forward
contracts  and  option  contracts to hedge some  of  its  foreign  currency
exposure.  The Company uses such contracts to hedge exposure to changes  in
foreign currency exchange  rates, primarily Japanese Yen, associated with
sales  denominatedin  foreign currency. Gains and losses on these contracts
are recognized as an adjustment of the subsequent transaction when it occurs.
Forward and option contracts generally have maturities not exceeding 12 months.

      The  Company  also  hedges exposure to changes in interest  rates  on
certain of its financial instruments.  Under the terms of various leveraged
equipment  loans, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements  to
effectively  lock  in  a  fixed interest rate  for  these  borrowings.  The
maturity dates of these leveraged equipment loans range from 2005  to  2008
with interest rates ranging from 4.7% to 6%.

                                    18

The  following  table  provides information about the Company's  derivative
financial instruments and other financial instruments that are sensitive to
changes  in  interest  rates. The table presents  for  the  Company's  debt
obligations, principal cash flows, related weighted-average interest  rates
by  expected maturity dates and fair values. For interest rate  swaps,  the
table  presents notional amounts, weighted-average interest rates or strike
rates  by contractual maturity dates and fair values. Notional amounts  are
used  to  calculate  the contractual cash flows to be exchanged  under  the
contract.

                         Interest Rate Sensitivity
             Principal (Notional) Amount by Expected Maturity
                       Average Interest (Swap) Rate
___________________________________________________________________________
(dollars in millions)1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  There-   Total  Fair
                                                   after           Value
                                                                  10/3/98
___________________________________________________________________________
Liabilities

Long-term Debt,
  including
  Current Portion

Fixed Rate         $73.6 $226.7 $125.2 $31.4 $178.5 $823.3 $1,458.7 $1,533.7
 Average Interest
      Rate          9.37% 6.39%  8.25% 7.88% 6.20%  6.79%   6.93%

 Variable Rate       $4.0 $24.6    -  $506.9   -     $50.0   $585.5   $585.5
 Average Interest
      Rate          4.15% 7.67%    -   5.57%   -    3.73%   5.49%

Interest Rate
 Derivative Financial
 Instruments Related
 to Debt
Interest Rate Swaps

  Pay Fixed          $16.1  $17.2  $18.4 $19.6 $20.2  $50.2 $141.7   ($8.1)
  Average Pay Rate    6.71%  6.71%  6.69% 6.73% 6.74% 6.59%  6.67%
  Average Receive Rate- USD 6 Month Libor.
===========================================================================

The  following table summarizes information on instruments and transactions
that  are  sensitive to foreign currency exchange rates. The table presents
the   notional  amounts,  weighted-average  exchange  rates   by   expected
(contractual)  maturity  dates  and fair  values.  These  notional  amounts
generally  are used to calculate the contractual payments to  be  exchanged
under the contract.









                                    19

                 Exposures Related to Derivative Contracts
               with United States Dollar Functional Currency
             Principal (Notional) Amount by Expected Maturity
   Average Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Rate (USD/Foreign Currency)
                           (dollars in millions)
___________________________________________________________________________

                     1999    2000 - 2003         There-   Total    Fair
                                                 after             Value
                                                                  10/3/98
___________________________________________________________________________

Sold Option Contracts
 to Sell Foreign
 Currencies for US$
Japanese Yen
   Notional  Amount    $6.5      -                         $6.5      -
   Weighted Average
     Strike Price   Y109.48
Purchased Option
 Contracts to Sell
 Foreign Currencies
 for US$
Japanese Yen
  Notional Amount      $5.6      -                         $5.6    $0.4
  Weighted Average
     Strike Price   Y126.69
===========================================================================


Credit Risks

     The Company's financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations
of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and trade receivables.
The  Company's cash equivalents are in high quality securities placed  with
major banks and financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk  with
respect to receivables are limited due to the large number of customers and
their  dispersion  across geographic areas. The Company  performs  periodic
credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally does
not require collateral. No single group or customer represents greater than
10% of total accounts receivable.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

      See the information on pages 24 through 41 of the Annual Report under
the  caption  "Consolidated  Statements of Income,"  "Consolidated  Balance
Sheets,"  "Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity,"  "Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows," "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" and
"Report of Independent Auditors," which information is incorporated  herein
by reference. Other financial information is filed under Item 14 of Part IV
of this report.

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     Not applicable.
                                     
                                    20

                                 PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

      See  information set forth under the captions "Election of Directors"
and  "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting" in the Proxy Statement,
which information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      Pursuant  to general instruction G(3) of the instructions  to  Annual
Report on Form 10-K, certain information concerning the Company's executive
officers  is included under the caption "Executive Officers of the Company"
in  Part I of this Report. See the information set forth under the captions
"Executive  Compensation and Other Information" and "Report of Compensation
Committee" in the Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein
by reference.

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

       See   the   information  included  under  the  captions   "Principal
Shareholders"  and  "Security  Ownership  of  Management"  in   the   Proxy
Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

      See the information included under the caption "Certain Transactions"
in  the  Proxy  Statement,  which information  is  incorporated  herein  by
reference.





























                                    21

                                  PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)    The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

            1.  The following consolidated financial statements of the
                registrant included on pages 24 through 40 in the
                Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended
                October 3, 1998, and the Report of Independent
                Auditors, on page 41 of such Annual Report are
                incorporated herein by reference. Page references
                set forth in the index below are to page numbers in
                Exhibit 13 of this Form 10-K.
                                                                    Pages
                                                                    ------
       Consolidated Statements of Income                               62
       for the three years ended October 3, 1998
                                                                  
       Consolidated Balance Sheets at                                  63
       October 3, 1998 and September 27, 1997
                                                                  
       Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity                 64
       for the three years ended October 3, 1998                  
                                                                  
       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                           65
       for the three years ended October 3, 1998
                                                                  
       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                   66-81
                                                                  
       Report of Independent Auditors                                  83
                                                                  
           2.  The following additional information for the years 1998,
               1997, and 1996 is submitted herewith.  Page references are
               to the consecutively numbered pages of this Report on
                Form 10-K:

                                                                    Pages
                                                                    -----
       Report of Independent Auditors                                  32
                                                                  
       Schedule VIII Valuation and Qualifying                          33
       Accounts and Reserves for the three years ended October
       3, 1998

     All other schedules are omitted because they are neither applicable
     nor required.

            3.  The exhibits filed with this report are listed in the
                Exhibit Index at the end of this Item 14.


            4.  On September 4, 1998, the Company filed a Current Report
                on Form 8-K related to the Board of Directors' approval of
                a combined financial program.



                                    22

                               EXHIBIT INDEX

      The following exhibits are filed with this report or are incorporated
by  reference  to previously filed material.  Page references  are  to  the
cover page preceding each attached Exhibit.

Exhibit No.                                                           Pages
- -----------                                                           -----
2.1        Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September  4,  1997  
           by  and  among the Company, HFI Acquisition Sub,  Inc.
           and  Hudson  Foods, Inc. (previously filed as  Exhibit
           2.1 to the Company's  Registration  Statement on  Form
           S-4, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
           on  December 10, 1997, Registration No. 333-41887, and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
3.1        Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company       34-43
                                                                   
3.2        Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (previously  
           filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on
           Form     10-K    for    the    fiscal    year    ended
           September  28, 1996, Commission File No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.1        Form  of  Indenture between the Company and The  Chase  
           Manhattan  Bank,  N.A.,  as Trustee  relating  to  the
           issuance  of  Debt  Securities  (previously  filed  as
           Exhibit 4 to Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement
           on Form S-3, filed with the Commission on May 8, 1995,
           Registration No. 33-58177, and incorporated herein  by
           reference).
                                                                   
4.2        Form  of  6.75%  $150 million Note due  June  1,  2005  
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 4(b)  to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           July   1,  1995,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.3        Form  of Fixed Rate Medium-Term Note (previously filed  
           as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form
           8-K,  filed  with  the Commission on  July  20,  1995,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
4.4        Form  of  Floating  Rate Medium-Term Note  (previously  
           filed  as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current  Report
           on   Form   8-K,   filed  with   the   Commission   on
           July  20,  1995,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.5        Form  of Calculation Agent Agreement (previously filed  
           as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form
           8-K,  filed  with  the Commission on  July  20,  1995,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
           
           
                                    23
                                                             
4.6        Amended  and  Restated Note Purchase Agreement,  dated
           June  30, 1993, by and between the Company and various
           Purchasers   as  listed  in  the  Purchaser   Schedule
           attached   to  said  agreement,  together   with   the
           following documents:
           
                      (a) Form of Series A Note
           
                      (b) Form of Series D Note
           
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 4(a)  to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           July   3,  1993,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.7        Amendment  Agreement,  dated  November  1,  1994,   to  
           Amended  and Restated Note Purchase Agreements,  dated
           June  30, 1993, by and between the Company and various
           Purchasers   as  listed  in  the  Purchaser   Schedule
           attached  to  said  agreement  (previously  filed   as
           Exhibit  10(a)  to the Company's Quarterly  Report  on
           Form  10-Q  for  the period ended December  31,  1994,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
4.8        Second Amendment Agreement, dated as of June 29, 1996,  
           to  Amended  and  Restated Note  Purchase  Agreements,
           dated  June  30, 1993, by and between the Company  and
           various Purchasers as listed in the Purchaser Schedule
           attached  to  said  agreement  (previously  filed   as
           Exhibit 4.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form  10-
           K  for  the  fiscal  year ended  September  28,  1996,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
4.9        Amended    and   Restated   Note   Agreement,    dated  
           June  30, 1993, by and between the Company and various
           Purchasers   as  listed  in  the  Purchaser   Schedule
           attached   to  said  agreement,  together   with   the
           following related documents:
           
                      (a) Form of Series E Note
           
                      (b) Form of Series F Note
           
                      (c) Form of Series G Note
           
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 4(b)  to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           July   3,  1993,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.10       Amendment  Agreement,  dated  November  1,  1994,   to  
           Amended    and   Restated   Note   Agreement,    dated
           June  30, 1993, by and between the Company and various
           Purchasers   as  listed  in  the  Purchaser   Schedule
           attached  to  said  agreement  (previously  filed   as
           
                                        24
     
           Exhibit 10(b) to  the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on
           Form  10-Q  for  the period ended December  31,  1994,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
4.11       Second Amendment Agreement, dated as of June 29, 1996,  
           to   Amended   and  Restated  Note  Agreement,   dated
           June  30,  1993,  by  and  between  the  Company   and
           Purchasers   as  listed  in  the  Purchaser   Schedule
           attached  to  said  agreement  (previously  filed   as
           Exhibit 4.11  to  the Company's Annual  Report on Form
           10-K  for  the fiscal year ended September  28,  1996,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
4.12       Form  of  $150  million 6% Note due January  15,  2003  
           (previously  filed  as Exhibit 4.1  to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           December  27,  1997, Commission File No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.13       Form  of  $150  million 7% Note due January  15,  2028  
           (previously  filed  as Exhibit 4.2  to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           December  27,  1997, Commission File No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.14       Form  of  $100 million 6.08% MOPPRS, due  February  1,  
           2010 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           December  27,  1997, Commission File No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.15       Remarketing  Agreement dated January 28, 1998  between  
           the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith,
           Incorporated,  relating  to  the  6.08%   MOPPRS   due
           February 1, 2010 (previously filed as Exhibit  4.1  to
           the  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed  with
           the Securities and Exchange Commission on February  4,
           1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.16       Form of $50 million Floating Rate MOPPRS, due February  
           1,  2010  (previously  filed as  Exhibit  4.5  to  the
           Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
           ended  December 27, 1997, Commission File No.  0-3400,
           and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.17       Remarketing  Agreement dated January 28, 1998  between  
           the Company and Merrell Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith,
           Incorporated, relating to the Floating Rate MOPPRS due
           February 1, 2010 (previously filed as Exhibit  4.2  to
           the  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed  with
           the Securities and Exchange Commission on February  4,
           1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.18       Form  of  7.0%  $200  million Note  due  May  1,  2018  
           (previously  filed as  Exhibit 4.1  to  the  Company's
           
                                         25
     
           Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
           March  28,  1998,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
4.19       Form  of  7.0%  $40  million  Note  due  May  1,  2018  
           (previously  filed  as Exhibit 4.2  to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           March  28,  1998,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.1       Fourth   Amended   and  Restated   Credit   Agreement,  
           including   all   exhibits  thereto,   dated   as   of
           May  26,  1995, by and among the Company, as Borrower,
           The   Chase   Manhattan  Bank  N.A.,  Chemical   Bank,
           Cooperative  Centrale  Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank  B.A.
           (Rabobank Nederland), Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
           New  York, National Westminister Bank Plc, Nationsbank
           of  Texas,  N.A., and Societe Generale, as  Co-Agents,
           and   Bank  of  America  National  Trust  and  Savings
           Association,  as  Agent (previously filed  as  Exhibit
           4(f)  to  the Company's Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q
           for  the  period  ended July 1, 1995, Commission  File
           No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.2       Amendment No. 1 to Fourth Amended and Restated  Credit  
           Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1996, by and among  the
           Company,  as  Borrower, the banks party  thereto,  The
           Chase Manhatten Bank, N.A., Chemical Bank, Cooperative
           Centrale   Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank  B.A.   (Rabobank
           Nederland), Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
           National Westminister Bank Plc, Nationsbank of  Texas,
           N.A.,  and Societe Generale as Co-Agents and  Bank  of
           America  National  Trust and Savings  Association,  as
           Agent  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  4(b)  to   the
           Company's   Form   10-Q   for   the   quarter    ended
           June  29,  1996,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.3       Amendment No. 2 to Fourth Amended and Restated  Credit  
           Agreement, dated as of May 23, 1997, by and among  the
           Company,  as  Borrower, the banks party  thereto,  The
           Chase Manhatten Bank, N.A., Chemical Bank, Cooperative
           Centrale   Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank  B.A.   (Rabobank
           Nederland), Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
           National Westminister Bank Plc, Nationsbank of  Texas,
           N.A.,  and Societe Generale as Co-Agents and  Bank  of
           America  National  Trust and Savings  Association,  as
           Agent  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  4(b)  to   the
           Company's   Form   10-Q   for   the   quarter    ended
           June  28,  1997,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.4       Issuing  and  Paying Agency Agreement  dated  July  1,  
           1993,  between  the Company and Morgan Guaranty  Trust
           Company  of  New  York, (previously filed  as  Exhibit
           10(d) to  the Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
           
           
                                       26
     
           for the period ended July 3, 1993, Commission File No.
           0-3400, and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.5       Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated July 1,  1993,  
           between  the Company and Merrill Lynch Money  Markets,
           Inc.  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10(e)  to   the
           Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
           ended  July  3, 1993, Commission File No. 0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.6       Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated July 1,  1993,  
           between  the  Company and the First Boston Corporation
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 10(g) to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           July   3,  1993,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.7       Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated July 1,  1993,  
           between  the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities,  Inc.
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 10(h) to  the  Company's
           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
           July   3,  1993,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,   and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.8       Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated July 1,  1993,  
           between the Company and Bank of America National Trust
           and  Savings Association (previously filed as  Exhibit
           10(i)  to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q
           for  the  period  ended July 3, 1993, Commission  File
           No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.9       Commercial     Paper    Dealer     Agreement     dated  
           September  1,  1994,  between the  Company  and  Chase
           Securities, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10(j) to
           the  Company's  Annual Report on  Form  10-K  for  the
           fiscal  year  ended October 1, 1994,  Commission  File
           No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.10      Tyson  Foods, Inc. Senior Executive Performance  Bonus  
           Plan  adopted November 18, 1994 (previously  filed  as
           Exhibit  10(k)  to  the  Company's  Annual  Report  on
           Form  10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1,  1994,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
10.11      Tyson   Foods,  Inc.  Restricted  Stock  Bonus   Plan,  
           effective August 21, 1989, as amended and restated  on
           April  15,  1994;  and Amendment to  Restricted  Stock
           Bonus  Plan  effective November 18,  1994  (previously
           filed  as Exhibit 10(l) to the Company's Annual Report
           on    Form   10-K    for   the   fiscal   year   ended
           October  1,  1994,  Commission File  No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.12      Profit Sharing Plan and Trust of Tyson Foods, Inc., as  
           amended  and restated through April 1, 1993; Amendment
           No.1 thereto, effective April 1, 1995; and terminating
           
                                        27
     
           resolution, effective March 31, 1996 (previously filed
           as  Exhibit 10(b) to  the  Company's Form 10-Q for the
           quarter ended March 30, 1996, Commission File No.    0-
           3400, and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.13      Tyson  Foods,  Inc. Employee Stock Purchase  Plan,  as  
           amended  and  restated  through  April  1,  1993;  and
           Amendment    Nos.   1   and   2   thereto,   effective
           April  1,  1996 (previously filed as Exhibit 10(d)  to
           the   Company's  Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter   ended
           March  30,  1996,  Commission  File  No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.14      Tyson Foods, Inc. Incentive Stock Option Plan of 1982,  
           as   amended  and  restated  on  September  5,   1987,
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 10(c) to  the  Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
           October  3,  1987,  Commission File  No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.15      Tyson  Foods,  Inc. Employee Stock Ownership  Plan  as  
           amended  and  restated  through  April  1,  1993;  and
           terminating  resolution,  effective  March  31,   1996
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 10(c) to  the  Company's
           Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter ended  March  30,  1996,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
10.16      Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated  
           August  1,  1997, between the Company and  Don  Tyson,
           Senior  Chairman  of  the Board of  Directors  of  the
           Company  (previously  filed as Exhibit  10.21  to  the
           Company's   Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year   ended
           September  27, 1997, Commission File No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.17      Retirement   Savings  Plan  of  Tyson   Foods,   Inc.,  
           qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
           Code  of 1986, as amended, originally effective as  of
           October  3,  1987,  as  amended and  restated  through
           January  1,  1993;  and Amendments  Nos.  1-5  thereto
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 10(a) to  the  Company's
           Form  10-Q  for  the  quarter ended  March  30,  1996,
           Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
           reference).
                                                                   
10.18      Tyson  Employee  Retirement Income  Savings  Plan,  as  
           amended   and  restated  effective  April   1,   1987,
           (previously  filed as Exhibit 10(h) to  the  Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
           October  3,  1987,  Commission File  No.  0-3400,  and
           incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.19      Form  of Indemnity Agreement between Tyson Foods, Inc.  
           and   its  directors  and  certain  of  its  executive
           officers  (previously filed as Exhibit  10(t)  to  the
           Company's  Annual  Report on  Form 10-K for the fiscal
           
                                      28
     
           year ended September 30, 1995, Commission File No.  
           0-3400, and incorporated herein by reference).
                                                                   
10.20      Senior Executive Employment Agreement dated November      44-45
           20, 1998 between the Company and Leland E. Tollett.
                                                                   
10.21      Senior Executive Employment Agreement dated November      46-47
           20, 1998 between the Company and Donald E. Wray.
                                                                   
12         Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.                          48
                                                                   
13         Pages  14-44  and back cover of the Annual  Report  to    49-88
           Shareholders  for  the fiscal year  ended  October  3,
           1998.
                                                                   
21         Subsidiaries of the Company.                              89-90
                                                                   
23         Consent of Independent Auditors.                             91
                                                                   
27         Financial Data Schedule.                                
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                    29

                                SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                                     
                           By /s/ Steven Hankins      December 16, 1998
                              -------------------
                              Steven Hankins
                              Executive Vice President
                                and Chief Financial Officer











































                                     
                                     
                                    30
   Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange  Act  of
1934,  this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

/s/ Wayne Britt           Chief Executive Officer      December 16, 1998
- --------------------           and Director            
Wayne Britt                                            
                                                       
/s/ Neely Cassady                 Director             December 16, 1998
- --------------------                                   
Neely Cassady                                          
                                                       
/s/ James G. Ennis        Vice President, Controller   December 16, 1998
- --------------------     and Chief Accounting Officer  
James G. Ennis                                         
                                                       
/s/ Lloyd V. Hackley              Director             December 16, 1998
- --------------------                                   
Lloyd V. Hackley                                       
                                                       
/s/ Steven Hankins      Executive Vice President and   December 16, 1998
- --------------------       Chief Financial Officer     
Steven Hankins                                         
                                                       
/s/ Gerald Johnston               Director             December 16, 1998
- --------------------                                   
Gerald Johnston                                        
                                                       
/s/ Shelby D. Massey              Director             December 16, 1998
- --------------------                                   
Shelby D. Massey                                       
                                                       
/s/ Joe F. Starr                  Director             December 16, 1998
- --------------------                                   
Joe F. Starr                                           
                                                       
/s/ Leland E. Tollett             Director             December 16, 1998
- ---------------------                                  
Leland E. Tollett                                      
                                                       
/s/ Barbara Tyson         Vice President and Director  December 16, 1998
- ---------------------                                  
Barbara Tyson                                          
                                                       
/s/ Don Tyson               Senior Chairman of the     December 16, 1998
- ---------------------         Board of Directors       
Don Tyson                                              
                                                       
/s/ John H. Tyson               Chairman of the        December 16, 1998
- ---------------------          Board of Directors      
John H. Tyson                                          
                                                       
/s/ Fred S. Vorsanger              Director            December 16, 1998
- ---------------------                                  
Fred S. Vorsanger                                      
                                                       
/s/ Donald E. Wray        President, Chief Operating   December 16, 1998
- ---------------------        Officer and Director      
Donald E. Wray                                         
                                    31
























                     FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE































                                     
                                     
                                     


                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We  have audited the consolidated financial statements of Tyson Foods, Inc.
as  of  October 3, 1998 and September 27, 1997,  and for each of the  three
years  in  the  period ended October 3, 1998, and have  issued  our  report
thereon  dated  November 20, 1998. Our audits also included  the  financial
statement schedule listed in Item 14(a) in this annual report (Form  10-K).
This  schedule  is  the  responsibility of the  Company's  management.  Our
responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits.

In  our  opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above,  when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a  whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.



 Tulsa, Oklahoma                                    /s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 November 20, 1998                                    --------------------
                                                       ERNST & YOUNG LLP



































                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                    32

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                              SCHEDULE VIII
              VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
                  Three Years Ended October 3, 1998

                           (Dollars in Millions)

                  Balance at  Charged to  Charged                  Balance
                  Beginning   Costs and   to Other   Additions     at End
Description       of Period    Expenses   Accounts (Deductions)   of Period
- -----------       ----------  ---------   --------  -----------   ---------


Allowance for
  Doubtful Accounts

1998                $4.4        $2.2          0        $78.7(1)     $85.3

1997                $3.5        $2.0          0        ($1.1)        $4.4

1996                $3.6        $1.9          0        ($2.0)        $3.5


(1) Includes $48.4 million reserve for international currency devaluation.
































                                     
                                     
                                    33