Shareholder Vote

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549   FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 21, 2011 SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)   Virginia   1-15321   52-0845861     (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)     200 Commerce Street Smithfield, Virginia   23430     (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)   Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (757) 365-3000 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):     o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)   o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)   o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))   o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. The annual meeting of Smithfield Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) shareholders was held on September 21, 2011 in Williamsburg, Virginia. At that meeting the Company's shareholders voted on the matters set forth below: Election of Directors The Company's shareholders elected the directors nominated in the Company's proxy statement dated August 12, 2011. The following table sets forth the vote of the shareholders at the meeting with respect to the election of directors: Director For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes Richard T. Crowder 140,398,345 817,269 347,688 11,611,982 Margaret G. Lewis 140,384,109 1,142,100 37,093 11,611,982 David C. Nelson 121,548,752 19,646,601 367,949 11,611,982 Frank S. Royal, M.D. 121,025,609 20,129,803 407,890 11,611,982 Ms. Lewis, Mr. Nelson and Dr. Royal were elected for three-year terms and Dr. Crowder was elected for a two-year term. Ratification of Independent Auditors The Company's shareholders voted upon and ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending April 29, 2012. The votes on this proposal were as follows: Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstained 149,182,094 3,638,651 354,539 There were no broker non-votes with respect to the ratification of our independent auditors. Advisory Vote Regarding the Approval of Compensation Paid to Certain Executive Officers The Company's shareholders voted upon and approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to certain executive officers. The votes on this proposal were as follows: Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstained Broker Non-Votes 116,245,208 24,787,780 530,314 11,611,982 Advisory Vote Regarding the Frequency of Shareholder Approval of Compensation Paid to Certain Executive Officers The Company's shareholders voted to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to certain executive officers annually. The votes on this proposal were as follows: One Year Two Years Three Years Abstain Broker Non-Votes 123,027,223 5,335,981 12,640,741 559,357 11,611,982 Consistent with a majority of the advisory votes cast and the recommendation of the Company's Board of Directors, the Company will hold a shareholder advisory vote on the compensation paid to certain executive officers annually, until the next vote on the frequency of such advisory votes. 2 Shareholder Proposal The Company's shareholders voted upon and approved a shareholder proposal regarding the declassification of the Board of Directors. The votes on the proposal were as follows: Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstained Broker Non-Votes 110,517,384 30,466,844 579,074 11,611,982 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.     SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.       Date: September 27, 2011   /s/ Michael H. Cole     Michael H. Cole     Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary 4