Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 37,883	$ 23,382
Cumulative translation adjustment	13,303	27,418
Net change in fair value of derivative instruments	4,726	12,100
Net pension and other postretirement liability adjustment, net of tax	1,719	1,541
Other comprehensive income	19,748	41,059
Comprehensive income	57,631	64,441
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		1,881
Comprehensive income attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ 57,631	$ 66,322

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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-Publisher FASB

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+ Details

- Definition

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to noncontrolling interests, if any. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The increase (decrease) in accumulated comprehensive income during the period related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans, after tax. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Net of tax effect change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges after taxes. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction that is attributable to a particular risk. The change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase or decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity, net of tax.

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+ Details

- Definition

This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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