Sec Form 4 Filing - SMOLYANSKY JULIE @ Lifeway Foods, Inc. - 2022-08-31

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP 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 JULIE 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Lifeway Foods, Inc. [ LWAY] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director X __ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO, President and Secretary (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC., 6431 OAKTON STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 08/31/2022 (Street) MORTON GROVE, IL60053 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock, no par value 2,151,748( 1 )( 2 ) D Common Stock, no par value 22,216 I See Footnote( 3 ) Common Stock, no par value 4,636 I See Footnote( 4 ) Common Stock, no par value 500,000 I See Footnote( 5 )

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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 Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Restricted Stock Units ( 6 ) 08/31/2022 A 40,000 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) Common Stock 40,000 $ 0 40,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other SMOLYANSKY JULIE C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. 6431 OAKTON STREET MORTON GROVE, IL60053 X X CEO, President and Secretary Signatures /s/ Julie Smolyansky 09/02/2022 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Includes (i) an award of 47,099 shares of restricted stock which will vest immediately upon issuance and (ii) a time-based restricted stock award of 125,000 shares of which 41,667 shares will vest immediately upon issuance, 41,667 shares will vest on April 20, 2023 and 41,666 shares will vest on April 20, 2024 and (iii) an award of 149,198 shares of restricted stock of which 48,733 shares will vest immediately upon issuance, 48,733 shares will vest on April 29, 2023 and 48,732,shares will vest on April 29, 2024, in each case contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on each applicable vesting date. ( 2 )The issuance of all shares of restricted stock listed in Footnote 1 is dependent on receipt by the Company of consent and agreement by DanoneWave PBC ("Danone") that such issuance will not constitute a breach of violation of or constitute "New Securities" under that certain Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1999, by and among the Corporation, Danone, Michael Smolyansky and the other stockholders of the Corporation listed therein, as amended by that certain letter agreement dated September 24, 1999 and as further amended from time to time (the "Stockholders Agreement"). ( 3 )Held for the benefit of minor children. ( 4 )Held by the Reporting Person's spouse. ( 5 )Held by Smolyansky Holding LLC of which the reporting person is the beneficial owner of 50%. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. ( 6 )Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 13,333 will vest on August 31, 2023, 13,333 will vest on August 31, 2024 and 13,334 will vest on August 31, 2025, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on each applicable vesting date. The issuance of shares upon vesting of these restricted stock units is contingent upon receipt by the Company of consent and agreement by Danone that such issuance will not constitute a breach of violation of or constitute "New Securities" under the Stockholders' Agreement.

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* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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