-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UaeratUJRbhgLf0tuOHMqVyVyQl3Bkb6bCy8M1Xt2CA5niPi07XLx6xWFf2Z2USI
 Tvxaj4bTrkbyAJGgTAnxPg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-018904.txt : 20100707
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-018904.hdr.sgml : 20100707
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100707155610
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-018904
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100702
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100707
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100707

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOMMERIN NILS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243127

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14335
		FILM NUMBER:		10942005

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEL MONTE FOODS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000866873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CANNED, FRUITS, VEG & PRESERVES, JAMS & JELLIES [2033]
		IRS NUMBER:				133542950
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0501

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MARKET @ THE LANDMARK
		STREET 2:		C/O DEL MONTE CORP
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		415-247-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MARKET @ THE LANDMARK
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94105

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DMPF HOLDINGS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866873</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEL MONTE FOODS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243127</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOMMERIN NILS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DEL MONTE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MARKET @ THE LANDMARK</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01, Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20980</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.39</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>378026</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $14.332 to $14.40. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 295,125.95 deferred stock units and 82,900 Performance Accelerated Restricted Stock Units (PARS).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James Potter, signed pursuant to power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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