-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 SfQToz+GD/9Kd9l2G8fN0g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001136268-04-000001.txt : 20040128
<SEC-HEADER>0001136268-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040128134358
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001136268-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040126
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHENKEL PETE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001136268
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12755
		FILM NUMBER:		04548648

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DEAN FOODS COMPANY
		STREET 2:		2515 MCKINNEY AVE  SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		214-303-3400

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000931336</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEAN FOODS CO/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001136268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHENKEL PETE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE, LB 30, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Dean Dairy Group</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6975</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6975</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.5625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>293025</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>293025</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.5250</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4914</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>295086</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>295086</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
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                <value>24.7933</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.7933</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <value>2013-01-06</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-07-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person received 18,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer on the first annual vesting date of an award of Deferred Stock Units (&quot;DSUs&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Sale is pursuant to a 10b5-1 Sales Plan between reporting person and Bear Stearns &amp; Co., Inc. acting as agent, to permit the orderly disposition of a portion of the reporting person's holdings of the Issuer's common stock, par value $0.01 per share of Dean Foods Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares of common stock subject to the Options shall vest ratably in three equal increments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person has received an award of Deferred Stock Units (&quot;DSUs&quot;) which is a right to receive shares of common stock of the Issuer in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the DSU Award Agreement.  The DSUs vest annually, on a prorata basis, over a five-year period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pete Schenkel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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