FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

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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Filed By Romeo & Dye's Instant Form 4 Filer
www.section16.net

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Schenkel, Pete	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Dean Foods Company (DF)		6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) President, Dean Dairy Group
(Last) (First) (Middle) 2515 McKinney Avenue, LB 30, Suite 1200	3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (voluntary)	4. Statement for Month/Day/Year October 8, 2002
(Street) Dallas, TX 75201		5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)	7. 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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans- action Date (Month/ Day/ Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/ Year)	3. Trans- action Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 & 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Follow- ing Reported Transactions(s) (Instr. 3 & 4)	6. Owner- ship Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	10/08/02		M		60,000	A	$18.7188	68,122.905	D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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FORM 4 (continued)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security

(Instr. 3)

2. Conver-
sion or
Exercise
Price of Derivative Security

3. Trans-
action Date

(Month/
Day/
Year)

3A. Deemed
Execution
Date,
if any
(Month/
Day/
Year)

4. Trans-
action
Code

(Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)

(Instr. 3, 4 & 5)

6. Date Exercisable
and Expiration
Date
(Month/Day/
Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 & 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)

9. Number of
Derivative
Securities
Beneficially
Owned
Following
Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)

10. Owner-
ship Form
of Deriv-
ative
Security:
Direct (D)
or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)

Code

(A)

(D)

Date Exer-cisable

Expira-
tion
Date

Title

Amount or Number of
Shares

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$18.7188

10/08/02

60,000

01/04/01

01/04/10

Common Stock

60,000

$18.7188

93,000

Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)

$18.7188

01/04/01

01/04/10

Common Stock

16,000

Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)

$21.5625

01/22/02

01/22/11

Common Stock

4,650

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$21.5625

01/22/02

01/22/11

Common Stock

195,350

Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)

$30.5250

01/14/03

01/14/12

Common Stock

3,276

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$30.5250

01/14/03

01/14/12

Common Stock

196,724

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)⁽¹⁾

$30.5250

01/14/03

01/14/12

Common Stock

130,000

Explanation of Responses:

(1) The shares of common stock subject to each of the Options listed shall vest ratably in three equal increments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.

By: /s/ Pete Schenkel

**Signature of Reporting Person

October 8, 2002
Date

**Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations.
See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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SCHENKEL PETE 4