Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
SMOLYANSKY EDWARD
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
LIFEWAY FOODS INC [LWAY] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
COO, Treasurer, and Secretary
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC., 6431 OAKTON STREET		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2016
(Street)


MORTON GROVE, IL 60053		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock, no par value 12/30/2016   G 1,200 A $ 0 262,715 D  
Common Stock, no par value 12/30/2016   G 6,008 D $ 0 256,707 D  
Common Stock, no par value             500,000 I See Footnote (1)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Shares $ 0 11/17/2016   J4 (2)   9,407 08/17/2017 08/17/2017 Common Stock
9,407
$ 0 0
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
SMOLYANSKY EDWARD
C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.
6431 OAKTON STREET
MORTON GROVE, IL 60053		       COO, Treasurer, and Secretary  

Signatures

/s/ Edward Smolyansky 02/14/2017
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The reporting person is the beneficial owner of 50% of Smolyansky Family Holdings LLC and disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.
(2) The grant of Performance Shares, which provided for vesting on August 17, 2017, was cancelled, terminated and extinguished pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company's Compensation Committee in exchange for a cash payment in the amount of the original value of the award.

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