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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001227847-04-000001.txt : 20040322
<SEC-HEADER>0001227847-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040322
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040322204432
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227847-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040315
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040322

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMOLYANSKY EDWARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227847

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17363
		FILM NUMBER:		04683587

	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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227847</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMOLYANSKY EDWARD</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>111098</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1389425</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Inheritance</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">For reasons more fully set forth elsewhere in this report, Edward Smolyansky disclaims ownership of the 1,389,425 shares of the Issuer's common stock attributable to him under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As discussed more fully elsewhere in this report, Edward had an interest in certain common stock of the Issuer pursuant to a will.  Edward has disclaimed this interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Michael Smolyansky, founder and former CEO of the Issuer (&quot;Michael&quot;) died on June 9, 2002. Ludmila Smolyansky, Edward's mother (&quot;Ludmila&quot;), is the executor of the Estate of Michael Smolyansky.    After Michael's death, Edward Smolyansky (&quot;Edward&quot;) had an indirect pecuniary interest (as defined in Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) in one-third of the shares of common stock of the Issuer owned by his father, Michael pursuant to the terms of that certain Last Will and Testament of Michael, dated February 2, 1990 (the &quot;Will&quot;) and attached as Exhibit 20.1 to the Schedule 13D filed by Edward on April 30, 2003.

Edward On March 5, 2003, pursuant to the Illinois Probate Act and the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, Edward executed a Disclaimer (the &quot;Disclaimer&quot;) wherein he disclaimed his interest in one-third of the Estate Shares 9the &quot;Allocable Interest&quot;).  The Disclaimer was filed with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois on March 10, 2003.  Pursuant to the Disclaimer, no Estate Shares have been distributed to Edward.

Accordingly, Edward no longer has an indirect pecuniary interest in any of the Estate Shares and disclaims the indirect pecuniary interest in 1,389,425 of the Estate Shares attributable to him under Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii).</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward Smolyansky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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