1 EXHIBIT 12 Dean Foods Company Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 39 Weeks Ended February 25, 1996 Income before taxes $60,668 ------- Fixed charges: Interest expense 21,061 Debt issue costs 137 Portion of rentals (33%) 6,203 ------- Total fixed charges 27,401 ------- Earnings before taxes and fixed charges $88,069 ======= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.2 =======