2.2.0.7 true PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Narratives) (Details) (USD $) 41501 - Disclosure - PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Narratives) (Details) true false In Millions false false 1 USD false false Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit14 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit14 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 3 USD false false Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit14 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Defined benefit programs recognized expenses 2 us-gaap_PensionExpense us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 48000000 48 false false false 2 true true false false 49000000 49 false false false 3 true true false false 48000000 48 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The amount of pension benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans and (2) defined contribution plans. For defined benefit plans, pension expense includes the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain or loss on plan assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain or loss due to settlements or curtailments. For defined contribution plans, the pension expense generally equals the firm's contribution to employees' accounts (if the firm contributes) during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph h Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5, 11 false 3 Accumulated benefit obligation 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 97000000 97 false false false 2 false true false false 89000000 89 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary For defined benefit pension plans, the actuarial present value of benefits (whether vested or nonvested) attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered before a specified date and based on employee service and compensation (if applicable) before that date. The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it includes no assumption about future compensation levels. For plans with flat-benefit or nonpay-related pension benefit formulas, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation are the same. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph e false 4 Postretirement medical obligation consisting of fixed annual payments 2 tsn_DefinedBenefitPlanPostretirementMedicalObligationConsistingOfFixedAnnualPayments tsn false debit duration Defined benefit plan postretirement medical obligation consisting of fixed annual payments false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 31000000 31 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Defined benefit plan postretirement medical obligation consisting of fixed annual payments No authoritative reference available. false 5 Postretirement medical obligation consisting of payments determined by healthcare cost trend 2 tsn_DefinedBenefitPlanPostRetirementMedicalObligationDeterminedByHealthcareCostTrend tsn false debit duration Defined benefit plan post retirement medical obligation determined by healthcare cost trend false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 14000000 14 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Defined benefit plan post retirement medical obligation determined by healthcare cost trend No authoritative reference available. false 6 Healthcare cost trend 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 0.07 0.07 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure The ultimate trend rate for health care costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph l false 7 Healthcare cost trend 2012 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false label false 1 false true false false 0.06 0.06 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure The assumed health care cost trend rate for the next year used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the plan (gross eligible charges). This is based upon the annual rate of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph l false 8 Defined benefit pension plan assets 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 22000000 22 false false false 2 false true false false 21000000 21 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those nonbenefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph d(iv)(b)(i) Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 87 -Paragraph 49 false 9 Expected contributions to pension plans for fiscal 2011 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 7000000 7 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph g false 10 Defined benefit plans funding 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 4000000 4 false false false 2 false true false false 2000000 2 false false false 3 false true false false 2000000 2 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The amount of contributions made by the employer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b false 11 Domestic pension benefit plans [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://www.tyson.com/role/disclosurepensionsandotherpostretirementbenefitsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 4 USD true false false false Domestic pension benefit plans [Member] us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 5 USD true false false false Domestic pension benefit plans [Member] us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Defined benefit pension plan assets 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 59000000 59 false false false 2 false true false false 54000000 54 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those nonbenefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph d(iv)(b)(i) Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 87 -Paragraph 49 false 21 Foreign subsidiary pension benefit plans [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://www.tyson.com/role/disclosurepensionsandotherpostretirementbenefitsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 6 USD true false false false Foreign subsidiary pension benefit plans [Member] us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 7 USD true false false false Foreign subsidiary pension benefit plans [Member] us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis explicitMember Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Defined benefit pension plan assets 2 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 15000000 15 false false false 2 true true false false 14000000 14 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those nonbenefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets. 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