Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Bellairs Chris
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
11/07/2012		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
DEAN FOODS CO [DF]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2711 NORTH HASKELL AVENUE, SUITE 3400		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP & CFO Designate
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

DALLAS, TX 75204		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 8,452
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy-DF006492) 07/01/2009(1) 07/01/2018 Common Stock 8,200 $ 19.26 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy-DF006493) 07/01/2009(1) 07/01/2018 Common Stock 8,200 $ 19.26 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy-DF006835) 02/13/2010(1) 02/13/2019 Common Stock 8,500 $ 20.07 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy-DF007212) 02/12/2011(2) 02/12/2020 Common Stock 6,035 $ 14.56 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy-DF007286) 02/18/2012(2) 02/18/2021 Common Stock 12,974 $ 10.35 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy-DF007354) 02/17/2013(2) 02/17/2022 Common Stock 26,307 $ 12.07 D  
Restricted Stock Units (DU004368) 07/01/2009(3) 07/01/2018 Common Stock 540 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Units (DU004369) 07/01/2009(3) 07/01/2018 Common Stock 540 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Units (DU005072) 02/12/2011(4) 02/12/2020 Common Stock 682 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Units (DU005609) 02/18/2012(5) 02/18/2021 Common Stock 6,556 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Units (DU005678) 02/17/2013(6) 02/17/2022 Common Stock 18,467 $ 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Bellairs Chris
2711 NORTH HASKELL AVENUE
SUITE 3400
DALLAS, TX 75204		       EVP & CFO Designate  

Signatures

Carman M. Callahan, Attorney-In-Fact 11/15/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The shares of Common Stock subject to the Option are fully vested.
(2) The shares of Common Stock subject to the Option vest annually, on a pro rata basis, over a three year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement.
(3) The reporting person has received an award of restricted stock units, which is the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Issuer in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement. The remaining units subject to the award will vest on 7/1/2013, subject to certain accelerated vesting provisions contained in the award agreement.
(4) The reporting person has received an award of restricted stock units, which is the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Issuer in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement. The remaining units subject to the award will vest on 2/12/2013.
(5) The reporting person has received an award of restricted stock units, which is the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Issuer in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement. The remaining units subject to the award will vest in equal installments on 2/18/2013 and 2/18/2014.
(6) The reporting person has received an award of restricted stock units which is the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Issuer in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreement. The restricted stock units vest annually, on a pro rata basis, over a three-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

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