Debt (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 3,222	$ 37,183
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(44,517)	(40,411)
Proceeds from insurance claims	2,996
Proceeds from divestitures		91,780
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	1,554	1,807
Other, net	(790)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(40,757)	53,176
Repayment of debt	(13,386)	(105,937)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	633,100	1,090,800
Payments for senior secured revolver	(587,600)	(1,063,900)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	874,490	1,105,000
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(855,000)	(1,105,000)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	(2,255)	(580)
Tax savings on share-based compensation	286
Capital contribution from non-controlling interest		2,913
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	49,635	(76,704)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,358	2,947
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,458	16,602
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	114,851	92,007
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	130,309	108,609
Dean Foods Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(79,145)
Repayment of debt	(13,335)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	633,100
Payments for senior secured revolver	(587,600)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	(2,255)
Tax savings on share-based compensation	286
Net change in intercompany balances	57,422
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	87,618
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	8,473
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3,061
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11,534
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	53,993
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(42,658)
Proceeds from insurance claims	2,996
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	1,554
Other, net	(275)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(38,383)
Repayment of debt	(51)
Net change in intercompany balances	(21,780)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(21,831)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(6,221)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	6,221
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	28,374
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(1,859)
Other, net	(515)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,374)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	874,490
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(855,000)
Net change in intercompany balances	(35,642)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(16,152)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,358
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	13,206
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	105,569
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	118,775
As Previously Reported [Member] | Dean Foods Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		43,906
Repayment of debt		(101,625)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver		1,090,800
Payments for senior secured revolver		(1,063,900)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes		(580)
Net change in intercompany balances		43,087
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(32,218)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		11,688
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		307
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		11,995
As Previously Reported [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		36,391
Payments for property, plant and equipment		(36,442)
Proceeds from divestitures		91,780
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		1,767
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		57,105
Repayment of debt		(4,056)
Net change in intercompany balances		(88,629)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(92,685)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		811
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		9,750
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		10,561
As Previously Reported [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(43,114)
Payments for property, plant and equipment		(3,969)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		40
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(3,929)
Repayment of debt		(256)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility		1,105,000
Payments for receivables-backed facility		(1,105,000)
Capital contribution from non-controlling interest		2,913
Net change in intercompany balances		45,542
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		48,199
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		2,947
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		4,103
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		81,950
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		86,053
As Restated [Member] | Dean Foods Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(12,058)
Repayment of debt		(101,625)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver		1,090,800
Payments for senior secured revolver		(1,063,900)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes		(580)
Net change in intercompany balances		99,051
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		23,746
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		11,688
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		307
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		11,995
As Restated [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		92,556
Payments for property, plant and equipment		(36,442)
Proceeds from divestitures		91,780
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		1,767
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		57,105
Repayment of debt		(4,056)
Net change in intercompany balances		(144,794)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(148,850)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		811
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		9,750
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		10,561
As Restated [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(43,315)
Payments for property, plant and equipment		(3,969)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		40
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(3,929)
Repayment of debt		(256)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility		1,105,000
Payments for receivables-backed facility		(1,105,000)
Capital contribution from non-controlling interest		2,913
Net change in intercompany balances		45,743
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		48,400
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		2,947
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		4,103
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		81,950
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$ 86,053