8. Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	Note 8 – Commitments and contingencies Lease obligations We lease corporate office space, three retail stores for our Lifeway Kefir Shop subsidiary, and certain machinery and equipment, under operating leases. Total lease expense was $555 and $497 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total lease expense was $180 and $175 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Litigation Lifeway is engaged in various legal actions, claims, and proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including commercial disputes, product liabilities, intellectual property matters and employment-related matters resulting from our business activities. We record accruals for outstanding legal matters when we believe it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, on a periodic basis, developments in legal matters that could affect the amount of any accrual and developments that would make a loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable. If a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, we do not establish an accrued liability. Currently, none of our accruals for outstanding legal matters are material individually or in the aggregate to our financial position and it is management’s opinion that the ultimate resolution of these outstanding legal matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, if we ultimately are required to make payments in connection with an adverse outcome, it is possible that it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Lifeway’s contingencies are subject to substantial uncertainties, including for each such contingency the following, among other factors: (i) the procedural status of the case; (ii) whether the case has or may be certified as a class action suit; (iii) the outcome of preliminary motions; (iv) the impact of discovery; (v) whether there are significant factual issues to be determined or resolved; (vi) whether the proceedings involve a large number of parties and/or parties and claims in multiple jurisdictions or jurisdictions in which the relevant laws are complex or unclear; (vii) the extent of potential damages, which are often unspecified or indeterminate; and (viii) the status of settlement discussions, if any, and the settlement posture of the parties. Consequently, Lifeway cannot predict with any reasonable certainty the timing or outcome of such contingencies, and we are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss. In a letter dated May 19, 2016, Lifeway received a request to voluntarily produce documents in connection with a confidential, informal inquiry by the Division of Enforcement of the SEC concerning Lifeway’s internal controls, disclosure controls procedures, and internal control over financial reporting for fiscal years 2013 through the date of the letter. Following the SEC’s issuance of a Wells Notice and discussions with the SEC staff about the SEC’s alleged claims, we reached an agreement in principle to resolve the inquiry on November 9, 2018. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Lifeway would pay one hundred thousand dollars in a civil penalty and agree to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-1, 13a-13, and 13a-15, thereunder. Lifeway will enter into the offer of settlement without admitting or denying the allegations therein and the settlement will resolve all allegations by the SEC against us. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we made a corresponding accrual in our financial statements. The settlement remains subject to final approval by the SEC.

8. Commitments And Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Note 8 – Commitments and contingencies

Lease obligations

We lease corporate office space, three retail stores for our Lifeway Kefir Shop subsidiary, and certain machinery and equipment, under operating leases. Total lease expense was $555 and $497 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total lease expense was $180 and $175 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Litigation

Lifeway is engaged in various legal actions, claims, and proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including commercial disputes, product liabilities, intellectual property matters and employment-related matters resulting from our business activities.

We record accruals for outstanding legal matters when we believe it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, on a periodic basis, developments in legal matters that could affect the amount of any accrual and developments that would make a loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable. If a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, we do not establish an accrued liability. Currently, none of our accruals for outstanding legal matters are material individually or in the aggregate to our financial position and it is management’s opinion that the ultimate resolution of these outstanding legal matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, if we ultimately are required to make payments in connection with an adverse outcome, it is possible that it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Lifeway’s contingencies are subject to substantial uncertainties, including for each such contingency the following, among other factors: (i) the procedural status of the case; (ii) whether the case has or may be certified as a class action suit; (iii) the outcome of preliminary motions; (iv) the impact of discovery; (v) whether there are significant factual issues to be determined or resolved; (vi) whether the proceedings involve a large number of parties and/or parties and claims in multiple jurisdictions or jurisdictions in which the relevant laws are complex or unclear; (vii) the extent of potential damages, which are often unspecified or indeterminate; and (viii) the status of settlement discussions, if any, and the settlement posture of the parties. Consequently, Lifeway cannot predict with any reasonable certainty the timing or outcome of such contingencies, and we are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss.

In a letter dated May 19, 2016, Lifeway received a request to voluntarily produce documents in connection with a confidential, informal inquiry by the Division of Enforcement of the SEC concerning Lifeway’s internal controls, disclosure controls procedures, and internal control over financial reporting for fiscal years 2013 through the date of the letter. Following the SEC’s issuance of a Wells Notice and discussions with the SEC staff about the SEC’s alleged claims, we reached an agreement in principle to resolve the inquiry on November 9, 2018. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Lifeway would pay one hundred thousand dollars in a civil penalty and agree to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-1, 13a-13, and 13a-15, thereunder. Lifeway will enter into the offer of settlement without admitting or denying the allegations therein and the settlement will resolve all allegations by the SEC against us. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we made a corresponding accrual in our financial statements. The settlement remains subject to final approval by the SEC.