New Rawesome Foods Raid

[ocean59]

http://www.naturalnews.com/033220_Rawesome_Foods_armed_raids.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/033225_Rawesome_Foods_photos.html

Wednesday, August 03, 2011
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com

(NaturalNews) This is a NaturalNews exclusive breaking new report. Please credit NaturalNews.com. A multi-agency SWAT-style armed raid was conducted this morning by helmet-wearing, gun-carrying enforcement agents from the LA County Sheriff's Office, the FDA, the Dept. of Agriculture and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).

This story is now being followed and widely reported on InfoWars (link removed) and the Drudge Report (link removed). See updates below...

Rawesome Foods, a private buying club offering wholesome, natural raw milk and raw cheese products (among other wholesome foods) is founded by James Stewart, a pioneer in bringing wholesome raw foods directly to consumers through a buying club. 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.

Law enforcement then proceeded to destroy the inventory of the story by pouring the milk down the drain and / or confiscating raw cheese and fresh produce for destruction. Video now posted at NaturalNews.TV: http://www.naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=A...

Note to NaturalNews readers: We believe this was an ILLEGAL raid being conducted mob-style by government thugs who respect no law and no rights. This is an all-out war by the government against people who try to promote healthy raw and living foods.

Article continues with plea for help. Second link has updated photos.

Previous SOTT coverage: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/227883
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/221695-Food-Safety-Bill-Empowers-Monsanto-To-Control-Food-Industry

 

[Hesper]

Thanks for the link Jason. As soon as I get bills figured out I'll definitely be sending these guys some cash. Natural News is right, big business is definitely waging a war on these farmers.

Here's the LA District Attorney's press release: _http://da.co.la.ca.us/mr/080311a.htm

Stewart runs the Venice market Rawesome, which has been in operation for more than six years but has never had any type of business permit or license, prosecutors allege. Stewart is facing 13 counts.

During a year-long investigation, investigators made undercover purchases of unpasteurized dairy products from Healthy Family Farms stands at Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara county farmers markets and at Rawesome. The products included unpasteurized goat milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir.

It seems that the operators of Rawesome foods didn't have any permits, and were really leaving themselves open to attack. Surprising, considering the fact that they'd been raided before and didn't learn their lesson...if that is true. Either way I think they deserve some help.

 

[anart]

Thanks for the link Jason. As soon as I get bills figured out I'll definitely be sending these guys some cash. Natural News is right, big business is definitely waging a war on these farmers.

Here's the LA District Attorney's press release: _http://da.co.la.ca.us/mr/080311a.htm

Stewart runs the Venice market Rawesome, which has been in operation for more than six years but has never had any type of business permit or license, prosecutors allege. Stewart is facing 13 counts.

During a year-long investigation, investigators made undercover purchases of unpasteurized dairy products from Healthy Family Farms stands at Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara county farmers markets and at Rawesome. The products included unpasteurized goat milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir.

It seems that the operators of Rawesome foods didn't have any permits, and were really leaving themselves open to attack. Surprising, considering the fact that they'd been raided before and didn't learn their lesson...if that is true. Either way I think they deserve some help.

If they've been raided previously and still didn't get permits, do you really think they deserve some help? I don't know all the details, so I can't say for sure, but it sounds to me like the best help they could use is some common sense.

 

[pete02]

It seems that the operators of Rawesome foods didn't have any permits, and were really leaving themselves open to attack. Surprising, considering the fact that they'd been raided before and didn't learn their lesson...if that is true. Either way I think they deserve some help.

Put that help towards the FOTCM my friend. ;) It's definitely a better cause to invest in!

 

[ocean59]

I agree, if it is true they were operating without permits, then that is pretty close to asking for attack. Especially given the history.

There were a number of updates today on the NN website. Of the more interesting:

Details are still sketchy on this, as we're breaking this news straight from the front lines in the aftermath of the government raid on Rawesome Foods in Venice, California , but NaturalNews is now being told that the LA County District Attorney will not be prosecuting James Stewart and the other "conspirators" who were arrested yesterday for selling raw milk. Instead, a special "environmental crimes" prosecutor will reportedly be prosecuting the case, which now consists of 13 criminal charges, some of which are felony crimes.

NaturalNews has not yet learned the name of this special environmental prosecutor, but the explanation smacks of the new environmental police who have been promoted through various propaganda outlets as being upstanding protect-the-Earth cops who arrest people for burning too much gas or using non-recyclable cups to drink beverages.

The issue of environmental police has been covered extensively by Alex Jones at InfoWars (dot) com, where he refers to them as eco fascists. See this page to read more about how propaganda ads are being used to get people comfortable with the idea that "environmental crimes" should result in police slamming your face into the ground and handcuffing you: (link removed)
(continues)

Then the latest update contains good news, but further murkifies the prosecutor issue:

(NaturalNews) Keep up the great work, NaturalNews readers! In the hours following the public protests and global attention being paid to the Rawesome Food raids, an LA County Judge reduced James Stewart's bail from $123,000 to $30,000. By all indications, James Stewart will be out of jail Friday morning (if not sooner). A condition of his release is that he not engage in the sale of unpasteurized milk and cheese -- a condition which is, by itself, completely unconstitutional and a violation of natural law. But nevertheless, this is the condition being set by the LA County courts.

In addition, Victoria Bloch, the L.A. liaison to the Weston A. Price Foundation, has been released and is reportedly at home this evening. We hope to speak with Victoria Friday in a phone interview and bring you her report, if she's ready to share that story publicly. This ordeal has no doubt been extremely stressful for all those involved, and it's nowhere near over: The charges of conspiracy against all three persons (James, Victoria, Sharon) still exist and will reportedly be prosecuted by a special "environmental prosecutor" from the FDA. (We are still working on confirming that tip so we can't 100% support that yet...)

I wonder why they aren't giving an indication to the source on this?

Also, the remainder of the first link is a lengthy diatribe titled "The real aim of the green police agenda" and is quite the interesting rant. I'm not sure if it is from somewhere else, or if it is by the author of the article.

 

[Hesper]

If they've been raided previously and still didn't get permits, do you really think they deserve some help? I don't know all the details, so I can't say for sure, but it sounds to me like the best help they could use is some common sense.

Yeah, I guess I'm feeling in an "all for one, one for all" mood since the French Connection thing. The whole thing about the lack of permits could be a lie, of course, but we'll see.

Put that help towards the FOTCM my friend. ;) It's definitely a better cause to invest in!

Well you're definitely right about that! The whole fact that Alex Jones is running with this story sort of gives me pause too. Both of you are right, I was just responding emotionally to the event before really thinking it through.

 

[Teresa]

FWIW, I received this message via FB from a lady I know and respect:

As a former dairy goat keeper, i find this horrifying. Rawsome is a private club, not a public venue. It is up to the members to be sure that the animals are tested for brucellosis, TB, et al, to keep the animal population safe, but beyond... that, since the members are all co-share-holders in the dairying enterprise, the government should have nothing more to say about how they drink the milk they produce. But the raid went much farther than the search warrant covered -- the government confiscated their fresh organic produce, which is NOT like raw milk at all, and even took organic meat, which is also not raw milk.

There is also a youtube video from NaturalNews.com about the raid from Rawsome's perspective.

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgeM7bBCWP4&feature=share_

 

[Mr.Anderson]

As a former dairy goat keeper, i find this horrifying. Rawsome is a private club, not a public venue. It is up to the members to be sure that the animals are tested for brucellosis, TB, et al, to keep the animal population safe, but beyond... that, since the members are all co-share-holders in the dairying enterprise, the government should have nothing more to say about how they drink the milk they produce. But the raid went much farther than the search warrant covered -- the government confiscated their fresh organic produce, which is NOT like raw milk at all, and even took organic meat, which is also not raw milk.

Rawsome is a private club, so did they sell raw milk to a non-member? You can't do that. Granted, the gov confiscated more than they should have but they were invited.

 

[Teresa]

As a former dairy goat keeper, i find this horrifying. Rawsome is a private club, not a public venue. It is up to the members to be sure that the animals are tested for brucellosis, TB, et al, to keep the animal population safe, but beyond... that, since the members are all co-share-holders in the dairying enterprise, the government should have nothing more to say about how they drink the milk they produce. But the raid went much farther than the search warrant covered -- the government confiscated their fresh organic produce, which is NOT like raw milk at all, and even took organic meat, which is also not raw milk.

Rawsome is a private club, so did they sell raw milk to a non-member? You can't do that. Granted, the gov confiscated more than they should have but they were invited.

You know Mr. Anderson, that is a very good question. I was assuming that they were only selling to members and hadn't considered otherwise. The devil is in the details. ;)

 

[treerocks]

I am wondering if there was more to this raid than just raw milk. I came across this link,

http://www.scribd.com/doc/61657586/Investigative-Report-EVIDENCE-of-FRAUD-at-Healthy-Family-Farms-HFF

It appears as if some of the people arrested have a long list of history with the law, and all may not be as it appears. I am not supporting the raid, I am just thinking their history in courts show less than honorable people.

T