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, 2004, 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 L. Engles
	Gregg L. Engles
	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
August 9, 2004

Note:  This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 902 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.