Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 130,309	$ 114,851
Receivables, net	932,911	946,109
Income tax receivable	28,174	24,960
Inventories	476,252	452,150
Deferred income taxes	82,654	109,475
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	72,589	65,595
Assets held for sale		3,182
Total current assets	1,722,889	1,716,322
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,083,432	2,114,380
Goodwill	1,160,221	1,155,271
Deferred income taxes	25,507
Identifiable intangible and other assets, net	766,583	768,390
Total	5,758,632	5,754,363
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,173,221	1,232,165
Current portion of debt	253,661	202,539
Current portion of litigation settlements		60,838
Total current liabilities	1,426,882	1,495,542
Long-term debt	3,564,079	3,563,389
Deferred income taxes	329,752	292,539
Other long-term liabilities	418,126	428,544
Long-term litigation settlements	72,525	73,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Dean Foods Company stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock, none issued
Common stock, 184,499,684 and 183,745,789 shares issued and outstanding, with a par value of $0.01 per share	1,845	1,837
Additional paid-in capital	1,079,831	1,086,804
Accumulated deficit	(954,636)	(992,519)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(179,772)	(199,520)
Total Dean Foods Company stockholders' deficit	(52,732)	(103,398)
Non-controlling interest		4,747
Total stockholders' deficit	(52,732)	(98,651)
Total	$ 5,758,632	$ 5,754,363