Rawesome Food Owner Pleads Not Guilty

The owner of Venice market Rawesome Foods pleaded not guilty Thursday to 13 counts stemming from his arrest Wednesday on suspicion of operating an unlicensed business, improperly processing milk without pasteurization, incorrectly labeling food and removing a closure notice, City News Service reported.

James Stewart, 64, faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. Sharon Ann Palmer, who owns Healthy Family Farms in Ventura County, which allegedly supplied the milk to Rawesome, and one of her employees, Eugenie Bloch, were also arrested. 

"This is an absolute outrage," Rawesome customer Jessica Miro told Patch. "It is close to impossible to find quality rare organic dairy products to this extent anywhere in Los Angeles, or the country! It is a direct attack on healthy, organic raw food!"

It is legal to sell raw—unpasturized—milk in California, but certain permits and inspections are required. According to City News Service, agents bought unpasturized products from Healthy Family Farms at a number of farmers markets and at Rawesome during a yearlong law enforcement operation. Prosecutors are also alleging that Rawesome has been in business for six years and failed to get a required business permit or license, City News Service reported.

Rawesome and raw food supporters gathered outside a downtown LA courthouse Thursday to protest the arrests.