DALLAS, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) today
announced that two shareholder derivative complaints have been filed against
the Company which allege stock option backdating by Dean Foods. The complaints
name certain current and former members of the Board of Directors and certain
current and former members of management.

Over the past few months, the Company has carefully reviewed its
historical stock option grants with its counsel and consulted with its
independent auditors. The Company does not believe there has been any
inappropriate conduct and does not expect any restatement of its financial
statements.

In response to the litigation, Dean Foods’ Board of Directors appointed a
special committee of independent directors who were not named in the
litigation to assess the allegations contained in the complaints. To assist
in the evaluation, the committee also retained outside counsel. A review of
the litigation is ongoing, and the committee will determine what action the
Company should take.

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods Company is one of the leading food and beverage companies in
the United States. Its Dairy Group division is the largest processor and
distributor of milk and other dairy products in the country, with products
sold under more than 50 familiar local and regional brands and a wide array of
private labels. The Company’s WhiteWave Foods subsidiary markets and sells a
variety of well-known dairy and dairy-related products, such as Silk(R)
soymilk, Horizon Organic(R) milk and other dairy products and International
Delight(R) coffee creamers. WhiteWave Foods’ Rachel’s Organic(R) brand is the
largest organic milk brand and third largest organic yogurt brand in the
United Kingdom.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements in this press release are “forward-looking” and are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These “forward-looking” statements include statements relating
to, among other things, expectations of management and the potential impact on
the Company’s financial statements. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from the statements
set forth in this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press
release speak only as of the date of this release. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with
regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based.

     Contact:  Barry Sievert
               Senior Director, Investor Relations
               (214) 303-3437

               Marguerite Copel
               Vice President, Corporate Communications
               (214) 721-1273

SOURCE Dean Foods Company

CONTACT: Barry Sievert, Senior Director, Investor Relations,
+1-214-303-3437, or Marguerite Copel, Vice President, Corporate
Communications, +1-214-721-1273, both of Dean Foods Company