-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 r4dm4RSzlkSScCb5E/27Yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001200045-04-000024.txt : 20040419
<SEC-HEADER>0001200045-04-000024.hdr.sgml : 20040419
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040419095835
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001200045-04-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040416
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040419

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOOD TECHNOLOGY SERVICE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000868267
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				592618503
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		502 PRARIE MINE RD
		CITY:			MULBERRY
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33860
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8634250039

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		502 PRARIE MINE RD
		CITY:			MULBERRY
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33860

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VINDICATOR INC /FL/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VINDICATOR OF FLORIDA INC /FL/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MDS CANADA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200045

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19047
		FILM NUMBER:		04739574

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		447 MARCH ROAD
		STREET 2:		OTTAWA
		CITY:			ONTARIO CANADA
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6135922790

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		447 MARCH RD
		CITY:			OTTAWA ONTARIO CANADA
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			9999999999
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000868267</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOOD TECHNOLOGY SERVICE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VIFL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200045</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MDS CANADA INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>447 MARCH RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OTTAWA ONTARIO CANADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>9999999999</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4424923</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10385</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.97</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4414538</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 485,856 shares underlying convertible debt determined at the close of trading on the transaction date.  Debt is not convertible at fixed price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David Nicholds</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----