-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 E9vq2o71A4Ka+xKJB+WoSA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001227846-04-000007.txt : 20040414
<SEC-HEADER>0001227846-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040414
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040414202454
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227846-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040413
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040414

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMOLYANSKY JULIE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227846

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17363
		FILM NUMBER:		04734478

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LIFE WAY FOODS
		STREET 2:		6431 W OAKTON STREET
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479671010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIFEWAY FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814586
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DAIRY PRODUCTS [2020]
		IRS NUMBER:				363442829
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6431 W OAKTON
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7089671010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6431 W OAKTON
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814586</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIFEWAY FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LWAY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227846</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMOLYANSKY JULIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LIFEWAY FOODS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6431 OAKTON ST.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORTON GROVE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60053</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1553225</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1551725</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1549225</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the 1,553,225 total shares reported on this line, 159,000 are directly owned by Julie Smolyansky and 1,394,225 shares are deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by Julie Smolyansky as an indirect pecuniary interest in a portion of the shares held in the Estate of Michael Smolyansky, Julie's father and the founder and former President and CEO of the Issuer.  On 3/5/2003, pursuant to the Illinois Probate Act and the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, Julie executed a Disclaimer (the &quot;Disclaimer&quot;) wherein she disclaimed her interest in the Estate. The Disclaimer was filed with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois on 3/10/2003. Pursuant to the Disclaimer, no Estate Shares have been distributed to Julie and she no longer has an indirect pecuniary interest in one-third of the Estate.  Julie disclaims the indirect pecuniary interest in the Estate attributable to her under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of the 1,551,725 total shares reported on this line, 157,500 are directly owned by Julie Smolyansky and 1,394,225 shares are deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by Julie Smolyansky as an indirect pecuniary interest in a portion of the shares held in the Estate of Michael Smolyansky, Julie's father and the founder and former President and CEO of the Issuer.  On 3/5/2003, pursuant to the Illinois Probate Act and the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, Julie executed a Disclaimer (the &quot;Disclaimer&quot;) wherein she disclaimed her interest in the Estate. The Disclaimer was filed with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois on 3/10/2003. Pursuant to the Disclaimer, no Estate Shares have been distributed to Julie and she no longer has an indirect pecuniary interest in one-third of the Estate.  Julie disclaims the indirect pecuniary interest in the Estate attributable to her under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Of the 1,549,225 total shares reported on this line, 155,500 are directly owned by Julie Smolyansky and 1,394,225 shares are deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by Julie Smolyansky as an indirect pecuniary interest in a portion of the shares held in the Estate of Michael Smolyansky, Julie's father and the founder and former President and CEO of the Issuer.  On 3/5/2003, pursuant to the Illinois Probate Act and the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, Julie executed a Disclaimer (the &quot;Disclaimer&quot;) wherein she disclaimed her interest in the Estate. The Disclaimer was filed with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois on 3/10/2003. Pursuant to the Disclaimer, no Estate Shares have been distributed to Julie and she no longer has an indirect pecuniary interest in one-third of the Estate.  Julie disclaims the indirect pecuniary interest in the Estate attributable to her under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie Smolyansky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----