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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BdpaSfH7HKEqDOCSl8tXitmVW65VMsh5gfY7R0JoLLyoG4kjW3RUXAJR0VnzRj1u
 vmKLjtw11kwU1emRdam5Zg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001287041-04-000005.txt : 20040429
<SEC-HEADER>0001287041-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040429
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040429210817
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001287041-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040429

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SALM RICK D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287041

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17363
		FILM NUMBER:		04767180

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 GREENBAY ROAD
		CITY:			WINNETKA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-04-26</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287041</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SALM RICK D</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>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-23</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>22.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Custodian</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the 1,400 total shares reported on this line, 400 shares are directly owned by Rick Salm and 1,000 shares are indirectly beneficially owned by Rick Salm as custodian of the brokerage account of Erica L. Salm, his daughter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Rick D. Salm is the custodian of the brokerage account of his daughter, Erica L. Salm.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The transactions reported on this Form 4/A were originally reported on a Form 4 filed on 4/26/2004. This amendment is being filed to include in Column 5 400 shares directly owned by Rick Salm which were not previously disclosed.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rick D. Salm</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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