<PAGE>
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2001.

                                                      Registration No. 333-64936
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                             TO FORM S-4 ON FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               DEAN FOODS COMPANY
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

             DELAWARE                                         75-2559681
   -------------------------------                       ----------------------
   (State or Other Jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
   Incorporation or Organization)                         Identification No.)

                        2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE, SUITE 1200
                               DALLAS, TEXAS 75201
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             -----------------------

                    DEAN FOODS COMPANY 1989 STOCK AWARDS PLAN
               DEAN FOODS COMPANY 1992 DIRECTOR STOCK AWARDS PLAN
               DEAN FOODS COMPANY 1996 DIRECTOR STOCK AWARDS PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                             -----------------------

<Table>
<S>                                                             <C>
                    GREGG L. ENGLES                                       COPY TO:
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER              WILLIAM A. MCCORMACK
                  DEAN FOODS COMPANY                                HUGHES & LUCE, L.L.P.
           2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE, SUITE 1200                     1717 MAIN STREET, SUITE 2800
                 DALLAS, TEXAS  75201                               DALLAS, TEXAS  75201
                    (214) 303-3400                                     (214) 939-5500
         (Name, Address, and Telephone Number,
      including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
</Table>

                             -----------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF EACH CLASS            AMOUNT              OFFERING PRICE            AGGREGATE              AMOUNT OF
     OF SECURITIES                TO BE                PER SHARE            OFFERING PRICE          REGISTRATION
    TO BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED                                                                FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>                  <C>                    <C>                      <C>
Common Stock,
$0.01 par value                3,164,175 (1)               (2)                     (2)                    (2)
==================================================================================================================
</Table>

----------------------------

(1) This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 covers 3,164,175 shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Dean Foods Company (the
"Registrant") originally registered on Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4.

(2) All filing fees payable in connection with the registration of these
securities were paid in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 on July 11, 2001 and Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 on August 10, 2001 registering 18,509,450 shares of Common Stock of
the Registrant, including the 3,164,175 shares being registered hereunder.


<PAGE>
                              EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

         We are filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to convert the
registration of a portion of the shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, to be issued under certain employee benefit plans that were originally
registered on Form S-4, to Form S-8. We filed our Registration Statement of Form
S-4 (File No. 333-64936) in connection with our acquisition by merger of the
former Dean Foods Company, a Delaware corporation ("Old Dean Foods"). Pursuant
to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 2001 (the "Merger
Agreement"), among us (formerly known as Suiza Foods Corporation), Blackhawk
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary
("Blackhawk") and Old Dean Foods, at the effective time of the merger between
Blackhawk and Old Dean Foods, each outstanding stock award originally issued by
Old Dean Foods pursuant to the plans listed below became no longer exercisable
for shares of common stock of Old Dean Foods, but, instead, now constitutes an
award of or an option to acquire our common stock pursuant to the plans listed
below:

         Dean Foods Company 1989 Stock Awards Plan
         Dean Foods Company 1992 Director Stock Awards Plan
         Dean Foods Company 1996 Director Stock Awards Plan

Each outstanding stock award will be exercisable for the number of shares of Old
Dean Foods common stock to which the corresponding Old Dean Foods option or
other stock based award was subject multiplied by 0.7521.

We hereby amend our Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on
Form S-4 (No. 333-64936), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 11, 2001, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4 filed on August 10,
2001, by filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 (the
"Post-Effective Amendment") relating to 3,164,175 shares of our Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of stock awards issued under the Dean Foods Company
1989 Stock Awards Plan, the Dean Foods Company 1992 Director Stock Awards Plan,
and the Dean Foods Company 1996 Director Stock Awards Plan.

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.   PLAN INFORMATION*

ITEM 2.   REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION*


*Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus
is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under
the Securities Act and the "Note" to Part I of Form S-8.


<PAGE>


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents heretofore filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Dean Foods Company (the "Registrant")
are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, which contains the Registrant's audited financial statements for the
Registrant's last completed fiscal year (the "2000 Form 10-K").

         (b) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31,
2001, June 30, 2001, and September 30, 2001.

         (c) Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2001 (amended by Form
8-K/A filed on April 10, 2001) and May 3, 2001.

         (d) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated February 19, 1997, (File
Number 001-127-55), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

         (e) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock purchase rights
contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated March
10, 1998, (File Number 001-127-55), including any amendment or report filed for
the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
of the shares of Common Stock offered have been sold or which deregisters all of
such shares then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents (such documents, and the documents enumerated above,
"Incorporated Documents").

         Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.


<PAGE>
ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director
of the Registrant will be personally liable to the Registrant or any of its
stockholders for monetary damages arising from the director's breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, with certain limited exceptions.

        Pursuant to the provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, every Delaware corporation has the power to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an
action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any and all
expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably
incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The power to
indemnify applies only if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such
person reasonably believed to be in the best interests, or not opposed to the
best interests, of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

        The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of
the corporation as well, but only to the extent of defense and settlement
expenses and not to any satisfaction of a judgment or settlement of the claim
itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification
shall be made in the event of any adjudication of negligence or misconduct
unless the court, in its discretion, believes that in light of all the
circumstances indemnification should apply.

        The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions
requiring it to indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.


ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.



<PAGE>


ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

<Table>
<S>               <C>
4.1*              Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated
                  December 21, 2001.

4.2               Rights Agreement dated March 6, 1998 among the Registrant and
                  Harris Trust & Savings Bank, as rights agent, which includes
                  as Exhibit A the Form of Rights Certificate (incorporated by
                  reference from the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                  March 10, 1998 (File No. 1-12755)).

5.1+              Opinion of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P.

23.1+             Consent of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2*             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (for the Registrant).

24.1+             Power of Attorney (contained in signature page).
</Table>

---------------

+Previously filed.
*Filed herewith.

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)      The Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                         (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                  "Securities Act");

                         (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of this Registration
                  Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                  thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                  fundamental change in the information set forth in this
                  Registration Statement;

                        (iii) To include any material information with respect
                  to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
                  Registration Statement or any material change to such
                  information in this Registration Statement;

         provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
         apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
         amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed
         with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to


<PAGE>

         Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated
         by reference in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new registration statement to the securities offered therein,
         and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
         the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification by the Registrant for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in
Item 6, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification by the Registrant against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Dallas, State of Texas, on December 21, 2001.

                              DEAN FOODS COMPANY


                              By:            *
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  Barry A. Fromberg
                                  Executive Vice President and Chief
                                  Financial Officer
                                  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

                              *By:   /s/ GREGG L. ENGLES
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  Gregg L. Engles
                                  Attorney-In-Fact


<PAGE>
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:

<Table>
<Caption>
              Signature                                     Title                                Date
              ---------                                     -----                                ----
<S>                                         <C>                                           <C>
  /s/ Gregg L. Engles                       Chief Executive Officer and Director          December 21, 2001
--------------------------------            (Principal Executive Officer)
Gregg L. Engles


              *                             Principal Financial and Accounting Officer    December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Barry A. Fromberg


  /s/ Gregg L. Engles                       Chairman of the Board                         December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Gregg L. Engles


              *                             Vice Chairman of the Board                    December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Pete Schenkel


              *                             Vice Chairman of the Board                    December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Hector M. Nevares


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Alan Bernon


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Tom Davis


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Stephen L. Green


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Joseph S. Hardin, Jr.


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
John Muse


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
P. Eugene Pender


              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Jim Turner

*By:  /s/ GREGG L. ENGLES
      --------------------------
      Gregg L. Engles
      Attorney-In-Fact
</Table>


<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<Table>
<Caption>
EXHIBIT
  NO.             DESCRIPTION
-------           -----------
<S>               <C>
4.1*              Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated
                  December 21, 2001.

4.2               Rights Agreement dated March 6, 1998 among the Registrant and
                  Harris Trust & Savings Bank, as rights agent, which includes
                  as Exhibit A the Form of Rights Certificate (incorporated by
                  reference from the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                  March 10, 1998 (File No. 1-12755)).

5.1+              Opinion of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P.

23.1+             Consent of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2*             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (for the Registrant).

24.1+             Power of Attorney (contained in signature page).
</Table>

---------------

+Previously filed.
*Filed herewith.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d93089s-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 20780}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DEAN FOODS CO/", "cik": "0000931336", "assigned-sic": "2024", "irs-number": "752559681", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-75820", "film-number": "1821578"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE LB 30", "street2": "SUITE 1200", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75201", "phone": "2143033400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3811 TURTLE CREEK BLVD", "street2": "SUITE 1300", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75219"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "SUIZA FOODS CORP", "date-changed": "19941013"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2001.

                                                      Registration No. 333-64936
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                             TO FORM S-4 ON FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               DEAN FOODS COMPANY
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

             DELAWARE                                         75-2559681
   -------------------------------                       ----------------------
   (State or Other Jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
   Incorporation or Organization)                         Identification No.)

                        2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE, SUITE 1200
                               DALLAS, TEXAS 75201
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             -----------------------

                    DEAN FOODS COMPANY 1989 STOCK AWARDS PLAN
               DEAN FOODS COMPANY 1992 DIRECTOR STOCK AWARDS PLAN
               DEAN FOODS COMPANY 1996 DIRECTOR STOCK AWARDS PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                             -----------------------
GREGG L. ENGLES                                       COPY TO:
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER              WILLIAM A. MCCORMACK
                  DEAN FOODS COMPANY                                HUGHES & LUCE, L.L.P.
           2515 MCKINNEY AVENUE, SUITE 1200                     1717 MAIN STREET, SUITE 2800
                 DALLAS, TEXAS  75201                               DALLAS, TEXAS  75201
                    (214) 303-3400                                     (214) 939-5500
         (Name, Address, and Telephone Number,
      including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
-----------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF EACH CLASS            AMOUNT              OFFERING PRICE            AGGREGATE              AMOUNT OF
     OF SECURITIES                TO BE                PER SHARE            OFFERING PRICE          REGISTRATION
    TO BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED                                                                FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
$0.01 par value                3,164,175 (1)               (2)                     (2)                    (2)
==================================================================================================================
----------------------------

(1) This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 covers 3,164,175 shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Dean Foods Company (the
"Registrant") originally registered on Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4.

(2) All filing fees payable in connection with the registration of these
securities were paid in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 on July 11, 2001 and Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 on August 10, 2001 registering 18,509,450 shares of Common Stock of
the Registrant, including the 3,164,175 shares being registered hereunder.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

         We are filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to convert the
registration of a portion of the shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, to be issued under certain employee benefit plans that were originally
registered on Form S-4, to Form S-8. We filed our Registration Statement of Form
S-4 (File No. 333-64936) in connection with our acquisition by merger of the
former Dean Foods Company, a Delaware corporation ("Old Dean Foods"). Pursuant
to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 2001 (the "Merger
Agreement"), among us (formerly known as Suiza Foods Corporation), Blackhawk
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary
("Blackhawk") and Old Dean Foods, at the effective time of the merger between
Blackhawk and Old Dean Foods, each outstanding stock award originally issued by
Old Dean Foods pursuant to the plans listed below became no longer exercisable
for shares of common stock of Old Dean Foods, but, instead, now constitutes an
award of or an option to acquire our common stock pursuant to the plans listed
below:

         Dean Foods Company 1989 Stock Awards Plan
         Dean Foods Company 1992 Director Stock Awards Plan
         Dean Foods Company 1996 Director Stock Awards Plan

Each outstanding stock award will be exercisable for the number of shares of Old
Dean Foods common stock to which the corresponding Old Dean Foods option or
other stock based award was subject multiplied by 0.7521.

We hereby amend our Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on
Form S-4 (No. 333-64936), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 11, 2001, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4 filed on August 10,
2001, by filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 (the
"Post-Effective Amendment") relating to 3,164,175 shares of our Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of stock awards issued under the Dean Foods Company
1989 Stock Awards Plan, the Dean Foods Company 1992 Director Stock Awards Plan,
and the Dean Foods Company 1996 Director Stock Awards Plan.

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.   PLAN INFORMATION*

ITEM 2.   REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION*

*Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus
is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under
the Securities Act and the "Note" to Part I of Form S-8.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents heretofore filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Dean Foods Company (the "Registrant")
are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000, which contains the Registrant's audited financial statements for the
Registrant's last completed fiscal year (the "2000 Form 10-K").

         (b) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31,
2001, June 30, 2001, and September 30, 2001.

         (c) Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2001 (amended by Form
8-K/A filed on April 10, 2001) and May 3, 2001.

         (d) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated February 19, 1997, (File
Number 001-127-55), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

         (e) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock purchase rights
contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated March
10, 1998, (File Number 001-127-55), including any amendment or report filed for
the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
of the shares of Common Stock offered have been sold or which deregisters all of
such shares then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents (such documents, and the documents enumerated above,
"Incorporated Documents").

         Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.
ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director
of the Registrant will be personally liable to the Registrant or any of its
stockholders for monetary damages arising from the director's breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, with certain limited exceptions.

        Pursuant to the provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, every Delaware corporation has the power to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an
action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any and all
expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably
incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The power to
indemnify applies only if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such
person reasonably believed to be in the best interests, or not opposed to the
best interests, of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

        The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of
the corporation as well, but only to the extent of defense and settlement
expenses and not to any satisfaction of a judgment or settlement of the claim
itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification
shall be made in the event of any adjudication of negligence or misconduct
unless the court, in its discretion, believes that in light of all the
circumstances indemnification should apply.

        The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions
requiring it to indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.
ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.
4.1*              Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated
                  December 21, 2001.

4.2               Rights Agreement dated March 6, 1998 among the Registrant and
                  Harris Trust & Savings Bank, as rights agent, which includes
                  as Exhibit A the Form of Rights Certificate (incorporated by
                  reference from the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                  March 10, 1998 (File No. 1-12755)).

5.1+              Opinion of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P.

23.1+             Consent of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2*             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (for the Registrant).

24.1+             Power of Attorney (contained in signature page).
---------------

+Previously filed.
*Filed herewith.

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)      The Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                         (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                  "Securities Act");

                         (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of this Registration
                  Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                  thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                  fundamental change in the information set forth in this
                  Registration Statement;

                        (iii) To include any material information with respect
                  to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
                  Registration Statement or any material change to such
                  information in this Registration Statement;

         provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
         apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
         amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed
         with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated
         by reference in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new registration statement to the securities offered therein,
         and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
         the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification by the Registrant for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in
Item 6, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification by the Registrant against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Dallas, State of Texas, on December 21, 2001.

                              DEAN FOODS COMPANY

                              By:            *
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  Barry A. Fromberg
                                  Executive Vice President and Chief
                                  Financial Officer
                                  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

                              *By:   /s/ GREGG L. ENGLES
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  Gregg L. Engles
                                  Attorney-In-Fact
POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature                                     Title                                Date
              ---------                                     -----                                ----
/s/ Gregg L. Engles                       Chief Executive Officer and Director          December 21, 2001
--------------------------------            (Principal Executive Officer)
Gregg L. Engles

              *                             Principal Financial and Accounting Officer    December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Barry A. Fromberg

  /s/ Gregg L. Engles                       Chairman of the Board                         December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Gregg L. Engles

              *                             Vice Chairman of the Board                    December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Pete Schenkel

              *                             Vice Chairman of the Board                    December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Hector M. Nevares

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Alan Bernon

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Tom Davis

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Stephen L. Green

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Joseph S. Hardin, Jr.

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
John Muse

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
P. Eugene Pender

              *                             Director                                      December 21, 2001
--------------------------------
Jim Turner

*By:  /s/ GREGG L. ENGLES
      --------------------------
      Gregg L. Engles
      Attorney-In-Fact
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
  NO.             DESCRIPTION
-------           -----------
4.1*              Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated
                  December 21, 2001.

4.2               Rights Agreement dated March 6, 1998 among the Registrant and
                  Harris Trust & Savings Bank, as rights agent, which includes
                  as Exhibit A the Form of Rights Certificate (incorporated by
                  reference from the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                  March 10, 1998 (File No. 1-12755)).

5.1+              Opinion of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P.

23.1+             Consent of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2*             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (for the Registrant).

24.1+             Power of Attorney (contained in signature page).
---------------

+Previously filed.
*Filed herewith.