Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 08, 2012
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	LIFEWAY FOODS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000814586
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,359,017