SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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 report) . . . February 7, 1996
Commission file number 0-2258
SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.
Delaware 52-0845861
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
900 Dominion Tower
999 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23510 (804) 365-3000
(Address of principal executive offices) (Telephone Number)
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events.
On February 7, 1996, John Morrell & Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFDS), which was acquired in December 1995,
entered a plea of guilty to a six-count charge by the United States government
of falsification of reports required by the Clean Water Act and other related
charges. The company, South Dakota's second largest employer, also agreed to
pay a $2 million fine plus a $1 million payment to an environment trust fund
to be established by the City of Sioux Falls and to continue its cooperation
with the government's ongoing investigation.
John Morrell & Co. operates a large meat processing facility in the City
of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In early 1993, the company discovered that
employees had been improperly testing and reporting water quality results to
the federal government. A full scale investigation was undertaken by the
company, and the company voluntarily self reported these violations to the
United States government. Two employees have already pleaded guilty in this
matter.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and 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.
Aaron D. Trub
Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer
Date: February 9, 1996
