<PAGE>
Exhibit 12.2
DEAN FOODS COMPANY
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended May,
39 Weeks Ended ---------------------------------------------
February 27, 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996(a) 1995
----------------- ---- ---- ---- ------- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income from Continuing Operations
before Taxes 131,184 115,297 143,730 124,529 (15,586) 100,582
----------------------------------------------------------------
Interest Expense 37,134 39,098 21,101 15,071 16,316 13,298
Portion of Rentals (33%) 10,437 13,916 10,758 8,417 8,735 6,704
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Fixed Charges 47,571 53,014 31,859 23,488 25,051 20,002
----------------------------------------------------------------
Income from Continuing Operations
before Fixed Charges 178,755 168,311 175,589 148,017 9,465 120,584
================================================================
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
and Preferred Stock Dividends 3.8x 3.2x 5.5x 6.3x 0.4x 6.0x
================================================================
</TABLE>
(a) Fiscal 1996 ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends
includes a $102.4 million special charge ($64.9 million after-taxes),
resulting in a fixed charge coverage deficiency of $15.6 million.
