-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Trq4wYqAo88OS3VfPSu7RdO1LlrXIeTdTVYhuuZRXRdMr7+MqWz7K25Sp+6QahEL
 ycUeqLvjAxa/drkBZOavRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001063545-03-000001.txt : 20030513
<SEC-HEADER>0001063545-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030513155511
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001063545-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030513

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEAN FOODS CO/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000931336
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ICE CREAM & FROZEN DESSERTS [2024]
		IRS NUMBER:				752559681
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE LB 30
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2143033400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE LB 30
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SUIZA FOODS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941013

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HILL JANET
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001063545

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12755
		FILM NUMBER:		03695609

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3600 N RIVER RD
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60131
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472335459

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3600 N RIVER ROAD
		CITY:			FRANKLIN PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60131
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000931336</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEAN FOODS CO/</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>DF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001063545</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HILL JANET</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4512</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>21.11</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4942</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><deriva
tiveSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4512</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>21.11</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-12-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4512</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwne
dFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Janet V. Hill</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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