EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Form 10-Q of Dean Foods Company (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Gregg Engles, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the information contained in the Report fairly presents in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ GREGG ENGLES

Gregg Engles

Chairman of the Board and Chief

Executive Officer

Date: August 13, 2003

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Dean Foods Company and will be retained by Dean Foods Company and furnished to the Securities Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.