Turn Over a Nutritious New Leaf: 'Start Right, End Right' With White and Chocolate Milk

DALLAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Many moms begin the new year with goals to improve their family's eating habits and do what's best for their kids. Dean Foods (NYSE: DF), together with its local and regional family of dairies, offers a solution to do both with Start Right End Right featuring the company's flavored milks newly reformulated with 10-15 percent fewer calories and 20-25 percent less sugar. Geared toward helping families make wholesome milk part of everyday nutrition, Start Right End Right includes tips and facts found at www.StartRightEndRight.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/puremilkfun. In addition, a national sweepstakes gives families the chance to win $25,000 for themselves and a $5,000 prize for their school of choice.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110106/DA26020LOGO)

Importance of Milk

Start Right End Right is about doing just that: starting the day right with white milk and ending the day right with a delicious and nutritious chocolate milk treat.

"Nutrition experts confirm that flavored milk combines the same essential nutrients as white milk with a taste that kids love," said Andrea Carrothers, MS, RD, registered dietitian and Nutrition Communications Manager for Dean Foods. "Children need the goodness of dairy, and studies show that drinking flavored milk helps them meet more of their nutrient needs. Our new, 150-calorie flavored milk products satisfy kids, but avoid the unnecessary sugar and calories that moms worry about."

Carrothers continued, "With the new formula, Dean Foods chocolate milk is an excellent option after school or on the go and certainly beats sugary sports drinks and carbonated sodas. It is made from the same nutritious white milk that comes from your local dairy and is cold shipped within hours, ensuring wholesome quality. As a leading dairy company, our commitment to research and development brings innovation to our formulas and makes the chocolate milk decision easier for moms."

More about the Reformulation

Flavored milk from Dean Foods most popular brands now contains 150 calories and 22 grams of sugar per serving, in addition to being low-fat. A fat-free version is also available. The change represents a 10-15 percent reduction in calories and a 20-25 percent reduction in sugar. The new chocolate milk formulation also contains pure cocoa powder and meets or exceeds the nutritional standards recommended by leading authorities such as the School Nutrition Association, the Institute of Medicine, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

About the Sweepstakes

One winning family and school will get a financial boost in the new year, receiving $25,000 and $5,000 for a school of his or her choosing. Entering is as easy as collecting sweepstakes-labeled milk caps from Dean Foods milk brands and entering the contest code online at www.StartRightEndRight.com. "Liking" the contest page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/puremilkfun will reveal a one-time free online entry. The contest runs from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, 2011, and the winner will be announced in early March. Full contest rules are available at www.StartRightEndRight.com.

Participating Dean Foods Brands

Brands across the country participating in the sweepstakes include:

• Alta Dena® Dairy
• Barber's™
• Berkeley Farms®
• Borden®
• Broughton™
• Country Fresh®
• Creamland
• Dean's®
• Gandy's
• Garelick Farms®
• Hygeia®
• Knudsen®
• Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms®
• Louis Trauth Dairy, Inc.®
• Mayfield Dairy Farms®
• McArthur® Dairy
• Meadow Brook®
• Meadow Gold®/Viva®
• Model Dairy®
• Oak Farms® Dairy
• PET® Dairy
• Purity Dairies
• Reiter Dairy
• Shenandoah's Pride®
• Swiss Dairy™
• Swiss Premium Dairy
• T.G. Lee®
• Tuscan® Dairy

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the United States and a European leader in branded soy foods and beverages. The Company's Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar segment is the largest U.S. processor and distributor of milk, creamer, and cultured dairy products. These offerings are marketed under more than 50 local and regional dairy brands, as well as through private labels. The WhiteWave-Alpro segment produces and sells an array of branded dairy, soy and plant-based beverages and foods. WhiteWave brands, including Silk® soy and almond milk, Horizon Organic® milk and dairy products, International Delight® coffee creamers, and LAND O LAKES® creamers, are category leaders and consumer favorites. Alpro is the pan-European leader in branded soy food products.

CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Jamaison Schuler, +1-214-303-3472.

SOURCE Dean Foods