Rawesome Foods Raided AGAIN by SWAT

Please do what you can to help by calling the LA District Attorney's office at 213-974-3512 to express your feelings about this issue, or donate at ConsumerWellness.org to help James Stewart (owner of Rawesome Foods) post bail. I have already donated what I can. The absurdity of a year-long investigation funded by us taxpayers, culminating in the seizure of the entire Rawesome inventory of natural and organic foods and arrest of its owner and others, is highlighted by recent news that Cargill ground turkey is contaminated with salmonella. At least one person in California has died and 76 people got sick as a result of the Cargill turkey. Where is the armed raid and seizure of inventory at Cargill?? No one has ever gotten sick from Rawesome's food, and more importantly, they are a private club. Members have to sign a contract stating that they understand the health risks of consuming unpasteurized dairy, and they are also owners of the animals that produce the dairy. Those carrying out the raid are not working in the interests of public health; rather, they represent the interests of Big Dairy, who would like to wipe out the competition. In 2010 sales of raw milk increased 25% in California, while pasteurized dairy sales declined. People are waking up to the fact that raw milk is healthier and better-tasting than pasteurized milk. It is also safer than many other commonly eaten foods, including leafy greens and eggs. This is an issue that potentially affects all of us: our rights to private property and private contract, and our rights to access healthy food.

Laurel Blair, NTP
www.dynamicbalancenutrition.com

https://www.foodrenegade.com/rawsome...again-by-swat/

Written by Kristen M
Food Renegade

On the heels of the recent news about raw milk’s safety comes an alarmingly disturbing coordinated multi-agency raid on Rawesome Foods — a raw food buying co-op in Los Angeles. This morning’s SWAT-style raid was coordinated at both Rawesome Foods and Healthy Family Farms and has led to three arrests so far, the confiscation of personal computer equipment and raw milk cheeses, and the dumping of more than $10,000 worth of raw milk down the drain.

According to early reports from people on the scene, James Stewart (owner of Rawesome Foods), Sharon Palmer (of Healthy Family Farms), and Victoria Bloch (local L.A. co-chapter leader for the Weston A. Price foundation) have all been arrested on charges of conspiracy to sell unpasteurized milk products.

The raid was carried out by gun carrying officers of the LA County Sheriff’s Office, the FDA, the Dept. of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control.

According to Mike Adams, of Natural News:

James was followed from his private residence by law enforcement, and when he entered his store, the raid was launched.

Law enforcement demanded that all customers (members) of the store vacate the premises, then they demanded to know how much cash James had at the store. When James explained the amount of cash he had at the store — which is used to purchase product for selling there — agents demanded to know why he had such an amount of cash and where it came from.

James was handcuffed, was NEVER read his rights and was stuffed into an UNMARKED car. While agents said they would leave behind a warrant, no one has yet had any opportunity to even see if such a warrant exists or if it is a complete warrant.

Ann Marie Michaels, blogger at Cheeseslave and co-chapter leader of the L.A. Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation was on the scene and recorded this video:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheChee.../1/lI1gvPmA_c8

I don’t know about you, but I can’t watch the video without being simultaneously outraged and brought to tears. This is America, folks. Where is our so-called freedom?

According to Dara Dubinet, a local member of the Rawesome Foods private co-op, officers on the scene informed her that the raid is happening not because of Rawesome Foods selling raw milk (retail sales of raw milk are legal in CA), but because they’re making other raw milk dairy products from the milk in the private buying club without the proper permits or certifications and “selling” both the products and the milk to consumers.

Please note that Rawesome Foods is a private co-op with a closed membership. Technically, they are not “selling” anything to the public, but rather coordinating the efforts of private members to buy and produce raw foods, including raw dairy. This is why they are operating without a license or the “appropriate” permits. They do not consider themselves a store that’s open to the public, but rather a private club.

Early reports indicated that Rawesome Foods owner James Stewart was being held on $123,000 bail, but subsequent reports have the figure at $23,000. In either case, you can donate to help James post bail here.

When I contacted the L.A. District Attorney’s office to ask for a comment, clarify what the express charges were, and ask about bail, I was told that they’d already issued a press release with all the relevant information. The press release is available online here.

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