September 8, 2017

VIA EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549-4628

Attn: Brad Skinner

Re:     Dean Foods Company

Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2016

Filed February 22, 2017

Form 8-K Filed May 9, 2017

Response Letter Dated August 3, 2017

File No. 1-12755    

Dear Mr. Skinner:

We have received the comment letter addressed to Mr. Chris Bellairs, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dean Foods Company (the “Company”), dated August 25, 2017, relating to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed on February 22, 2017 as well as the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2017 (the “Comment Letter”). We are submitting this letter to confirm the undersigned’s conversation with you and Lily Dang on September 7, 2017, regarding the timing of our response to your comments. As discussed, we anticipate providing a complete response to the comment letter no later than September 25, 2017.

Best regards,

By:	/S/ SCOTT K. VOPNI
Name:	Scott K. Vopni
Title:	Senior Vice President – Finance, Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer

2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 3400, Dallas, Texas 75204