Johnson & Johnson baby lotion found contaminated with deadly bacteria

More quality control issues at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) have spurred yet another consumer product recall. At least 2,200 bottles of Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion from lot number 0161LK have been found to be contaminated with coagulase-negative staphylococci, a highly…

Powerful activism to demand labeling of GMOs – watch ‘Labels Matter’ and sign the petition now!

The Alliance for Natural Health USA (ANH-USA), Breastcancer.org, the Center for Food Safety (CFS), Stonyfield Farm, the Non-GMO Project, and more than 450 other consumer groups, health food companies, and farming organizations have signed on with a new GMO labeling campaign…

FTC lawsuit targets acai berry marketing ads that pose as legitimate product reviews

Earlier in the year, the Consumer Wellness Center (CWC) conducted an investigation into those tricky acai berry diet advertisements that lure web surfers into purchasing “free” or low-cost trials of weight loss supplements, only to have their credit cards charged for…

Consumer Wellness Center invests in the nutritional future of children through cash awards from its 2012 Nutrition Education Grant Program

The Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting nutrition as a way to prevent disease and enhance human health and longevity, is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s 2012 Nutritional Education Grant Program. Each year…

Court documents reveal LA County prosecutor Kelly Sakir used infiltration agents, hidden cameras, extreme surveillance to target Rawesome Foods

(NaturalNews) Examples of government-sponsored terrorism against innocent Americans continue to pour in to NaturalNews, and no case better demonstrates it than the Rawesome Foods raid and the ongoing persecution of its organizers. In court proceedings last Thursday, LA County prosecutor Kelly Sakir turned over 1,097 pages of “discovery” documents to the defendants’ attorneys, revealing an utterly astonishing campaign of spying, surveillance, and entrapment that has targeted Rawesome Foods for at least the last two years. NaturalNews has learned that at least three undercover operatives were hired by the LA County prosecutor’s office to infiltrate Rawesome Foods and sign up as members while covertly filming their actions using hidden cameras in their purses. These cameras almost certainly captured video footage of other members at Rawesome Foods, meaning the government itself stands in violation of wiretapping laws that it often uses against innocent civilians who try to videotape traffic stops by local police. NaturalNews has also learned that there are 42 discs of additional evidence which has been gathered by the LA County prosecutor — including interviews with the operatives, covert camera footage, documents and even video footage from a surveillance pole camera that LA County set up across the street to spy on Rawesome Foods. Mass murderers? No, just people distributing unpasteurized milk The depth of this evidence reveals that LA County has spent millions of dollars conducting the most aggressive, vindictive and downright abusive surveillance campaign against a food distribution club that has ever been recorded in human history. The level of resources that has been directed against Rawesome vastly exceeds the resources typically used against murderers , rapists or organized crime mob bosses. Under the excuse of protecting the public from “fresh milk,” LA County has spent millions of dollars and countless thousands of hours conducting the kind of surveillance that would sensibly only be reserved for hard-core violent criminals such as serial killers. “You have to wonder how many people died from murders in LA County while these prosecutors were busy running surveillance on the distribution of fresh milk,” Robert Scott Bell said. He’s the host of the Robert Scott Bell Show and will be covering this issue on Monday’s broadcast (www.NaturalNewsRadio.com). “Couldn’t these law enforcement resources have been put to a better use protecting society from real criminals?” “It all harkens back to Thomas Payne, with Common Sense,” added attorney Ajna Sharma, who represents James Stewart. “We have lost our common sense; we’ve lost the true meaning of what it means to be an American and what freedom means.” Kelly Sakir and the new “green” government tyrants This government tyranny against Rawesome Foods has been spearheaded by LA County prosecutor Kelly Sakir, who NaturalNews can now reveal is a rabid environmentalist who gave donations to MoveOn.org and an environmental PAC (political action committee) in 2004. (http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=90012&last=Sakir&first=Kelly) Sakir is part of a new breed of what some people are calling “government terrorists” who cannot discern right from wrong and merely use their positions of authority to carry out what are essentially terrorism campaigns against those they hate. In reality, the viciousness of this attempted prosecution of James Steward, Sharon Palmer and Victoria Bloch can only be rightly characterized as a “hate crime” being carried out by the government itself, all under a special “environmental crimes” unit that claims to be protecting the public. In reality, however, these so-called “crimes” are all utterly fabricated — just like the “war on terror” — and those targeted for persecution by the state or federal government are usually just innocent Americans who are trying to run an honest business, or distribute honest food, or contribute to society in a meaningful way. The government is literally trying to destroy America’s economy and freedoms Case in point: Gibson Guitars was raided by the federal government and accused of “environmental crimes” for importing wood from India to be used in its guitars. The federal government said that it is now illegal for U.S. workers to “work imported wood from India” and that if it wanted to avoid such raids in the future, Gibson should move its manufacturing jobs overseas! (http://www.naturalnews.com/033454_Gibson_Guitar_armed_raid.html) and (http://www.naturalnews.com/033506_Gibson_Guitar_American_workers.html) It’s true: Both state governments and federal agencies are now actively working to destroy America’s health and its economy by shutting down businesses and organizations that offer jobs or natural health solutions to the American people. The terror-style tactics being used against Rawesome Foods are indicative of the fact that this is not a customary criminal investigation but rather a government vendetta against health freedom . This is the government, in other words, actively seeking to destroy your right to access real food and thereby protect your health in the process. This is government waging war on the American people under the label of “environmentalism.” More charges may yet be leveled against James, and more defendants may be named NaturalNews has learned that Kelly Sakir intends to name more defendants in the case and even add more charges to the counts already faced by James Stewart. Throwing these people in jail for several days and dragging them into court isn’t enough, it seems; Kelly Sakir seems to want to destroy their lives and make sure they do hard time in prison. What’s clear from this is that Kelly Sakir is out for blood and is on some sort of bizarre punitive rampage against James Stewart in particular and health freedom in general. And she’s using taxpayer resources in LA County to bankroll her personal vendetta against fresh milk and anyone involved in distributing it. (Does she hate cows or something? Did she step in a pile of cow poo as a child and now she forever seeks revenge on cow milk?) If you live in LA County, keep in mind that your tax dollars are supporting all this tyranny! Take action: Here’s how to protest this madness I encourage you to join me in contacting the LA County District Attorney’s office today and letting them know what you think about this total waste of taxpayer money to conduct extreme surveillance over fresh milk. Their contact page is at: http://da.co.la.ca.us/feedback.htm There, you can call, email or post a form. The best option is to CALL them at (213) 974-3512 because phone calls mean much more than emails. You might consider calling their Hate Crime Unit at (213) 202-7799 and leaving a message complaining about Kelly Sakir and her hate crimes against raw milk. Or call the Consumer Protection Division at (213) 580-3273 and complain that consumer rights are under assault by prosecutor Kelly Sakir who has stripped away the consumer right to purchase fresh milk and cheese. Contact the Bureau of Community Relations at (213) 974-7401 and tell them how incensed you are that LA County tax dollars are being used to hire undercover agents to investigate raw milk instead of being used to track down and arrest violent criminals. Call their Major Crimes Division at (213) 974-3800 and explain that Kelly Sakir is running a major criminal operation against innocent LA County citizens who are merely distributing wholesome food to private members. Sakir sure looks a lot more like the criminal here than James Stewart! And email them, if you want, at webmail@da.lacounty.gov (although remember, emails will probably just be deleted). LA County District Attorneys = terrorists in training? What we are witnessing here, friends, is an out of control government terrorist organization known as the LA County District Attorney’s Office. Of course, most people in the LA County DA’s office are good people . Most of them are hard at work trying to protect society from REAL criminals — the murderers, rapists, con artists, fraudsters and so on. And yet within their midst, they have Kelly Sakir , an out-of-control, rampaging government tyrant who makes the whole department look like a bunch of low life government thugs (or criminal terrorists who actively plot against innocent people). It’s incredible that they keep this woman on the payroll and let her spend millions of dollars in taxpayer money going after RAW MILK! Hey, LA County DA people: Aren’t there REAL criminals that need to be surveilled? Aren’t there violent gang members who deserve your attention rather than a bunch of raw cheese eaters? What is wrong with you people? With each passing day that you allow Kelly Sakir and her rampage of hatred continue, you discredit your entire office and prove all the rest of us right when we say you are a bunch of government terrorists who care nothing for the people and only enjoy abusing your power to get off on some sort of insane ego trip. In my opinion, Kelly Sakir is the real criminal in all this , and if any money should be spent on surveillance at all, it should be spent keeping an eye on Sakir and her abuse of government power. This is a clear-cut case for a criminal investigation in Kelly Sakir’s abuse of power and violation of the civil rights of James Stewart and others. The LA County DA’s office should investigate Kelly Sakir , I say, and potentially bring charges for her outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars and for waging a completely unjustified personal war against Rawesome Foods which poses no threat whatsoever to the public at large. Her abuse of power is so clear-cut that if you open an encyclopedia and turn to the entry for “government abuse of power,” it should have Kelly Sakir’s mug shot there. This woman is an embarrassment to law enforcement, an embarrassment to the people of LA County, and an embarrassment to the very idea of justice in America. I think Sakir is a power-tripping paranoid sociopath who will apparently waste any amount of LA County taxpayer dollars in her quest to destroy her targeted enemies, even when they pose no threat to the public. Send us any tips you have about Kelly Sakir NaturalNews is now accepting reader tips through a more streamlined process. If you have any tips about Kelly Sakir that you think we need to know, submit them to us at: http://www.naturalnews.com/newstips/NewsTips.asp We will review all submitted tips in a timely manner. Thank you for helping us expose government corruption in LA County and help protect the lives of innocents.

Vitamin Water exposed as sugar water in Food Investigations video

(NaturalNews) In a new Food Investigations video entitled, “The Vitamin Water Deception,” the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (www.ConsumerWellness.org) takes aim at the misleading marketing and high sugar content of Vitamin Water (a Coca-Cola product). The video was created by the Consumer Wellness Center and narrated by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, who also created the hugely popular “Blueberry Deception” video which has received over one million views across the internet. Watch the Vitamin Water Deception at: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=9D14AA3725876EF038F606C4819B3677 Or YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8lLp26HaZY In this video report, you’ll learn: • Why Vitamin Water is mostly just “sugar water.” • Why the vitamins used in Vitamin Water are really just synthetic chemicals. • How Coca-Cola altered the serving size of the beverage, making the sugar content appear to be less than what it really is. • Why Vitamin Water advertising and marketing is misleading. • The shocking truth of how even Coca-Cola’s own attorneys publicly admitted that Vitamin Water is not a “healthy beverage.” (http://www.naturalnews.com/029425_vitaminwater_Coca-Cola.html) • Why one health group calls Vitamin Water “non-carbonated soda” and claim it contributes to weight gain, diabetes, obesity and other diseases. • What to drink that’s far better for you than Vitamin Water. • Why the fruit flavor varieties of Vitamin Water contain no actual fruit . • The truth of how Vitamin Water uses the cheap synthetic form of Vitamin B12 – Cyanocobalamin, which contains cyanide molecules. • Why Vitamin Water is dead, processed food that has been pasteurized. The links to watch the video are: NaturalNews.TV: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=9D14AA3725876EF038F606C4819B3677 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8lLp26HaZY Why Food Investigations is so popular The Food Investigations series, created by Mike Adams, has been a huge hit across the internet, achieving mainstream news coverage and racking up millions of views across the many duplicate videos that have been posted. Old media news networks even ripped off the story and ran their own version of it, propping up their in-house personalities as the “experts” who “discovered” the very same things about food that Mike Adams first exposed in Food Investigations. The first episode of Food Investigations, The Blueberry Deception , exposed the use of fake blueberries in cereals, bagels, breads and other products made by mainstream food companies such as General Mills and Kellogg’s. Shortly after this episode was released by the Consumer Wellness Center, Kellogg’s changed the box for one of their blueberry cereals, altering their text and removing the pictures of blueberries from one of the side panels. You can watch The Blueberry Deception at: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=7EC06D27B1A945BE85E7DA8483025962 Or YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_HjvjB4G5s You may also enjoy watching the comedy skit created by Mike Adams called General Mills Mind Games , which satirizes the lack of blueberries in their “Blueberry Pomegranate TOTAL cereal”: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=851519FA1AC72A56F7205D2285CC66CF Learn more at www.ConsumerWellness.org

Timeline of FDA raids on raw milk farmers, dietary supplement makers and natural medicine practitioners

(NaturalNews) The US Food and Drug Administration has a long history of conducting armed, SWAT-style raids on farmers, cancer treatment pioneers and dietary supplement manufacturers. This list, compiled by the editors of NaturalNews, reveals only some of the hundreds of armed FDA raids that have been conducted in the last twenty-five years. What you see from this is a pattern of government-sponsored terrorism against innocent Americans and small business people; all done in the name of “protecting” the public from milk, walnuts, vitamins, plants or fruit extracts. The real reason behind all this, of course, is that the FDA has long waged a campaign of fear and intimidation against natural product providers for the sole purpose of destroying the natural products industry and thereby handing Big Pharma a monopoly over health treatment medicines. If you’re skeptical of that conclusion, read the timeline and see for yourself. And if you’re currently a farmer who might be targeted in a future FDA raid, be sure to read this helpful resource created by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund entitled How to Survive a Farm Raid : http://www.ftcldf.org/farm-raids.html Timeline of FDA raids against farmers, health clinics and dietary supplement providers – 1985, July 7. FDA agents raid the Burzynski Research Clinic (Texas), steal 200,000 medical and research documents, and force Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski to pay for copies to be made of them. No official charges are ever filed by the FDA (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1987, February 26. Twenty-five armed FDA agents and US Marshals storm offices of the Life Extension Foundation (Florida), terrorize employees and seize thousands of nutritional products, materials, computers, files, and newsletters. Eighty percent of seized items are later determined not to even have been on the warrant (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1988, November. FDA agents raid Traco Labs (Illinois), seize several drums of black currant oil as well as many containers of encapsulated product. The FDA claims the capsules the oil was being put into are an “unapproved food additive” (http://www.drpasswater.com/nutrition_library/Nov_05/Murray_FDA_Struggle_final.html). – 1998, Summer. FDA agents seize entire inventory and business records of Pets Smell Free (Utah), a company that produces a natural product for eliminating pet odor. The company later wins a lawsuit against the FDA in court (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1990, October 6. Federal agents raid HA Lyons (Arizona), a women-run, home-based mailing service that publishes materials for vitamin companies. Armed agents seize all business records and literature, and even try to steal the owner’s checkbook and cash. The FDA eventually drives the company out of business (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1990, Fall. FDA agents raid Highland Laboratories (Oregon), a company that produces vitamins and nutritional supplements. The agents do not present a warrant, but proceed to seize everything except for office furniture, and threaten employees with violence if they fail to comply (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1990, March. FDA agents raid Solid Gold Pet Foods (California), seize all pet food products without a warrant, and shut down the store. Owner Sissy Harrington-McGill is later indicted, and spends 179 days in prison with leg irons clasped to her legs (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1990. Agents from both the FDA and US Postal Service twice raid Century Clinic (Nevada), and steal chelation products, computers, and various other equipment. No official charges are ever filed against the clinic, however both illegal raids go unpunished (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1991, Fall. FDA agents raid Scientific Botanicals (Washington), a nutritional supplement company, and seize herbal extracts and literature. FDA strong-arms company into complying with its unlawful demands before agreeing to release seized products (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1991, December 12. RDA agents raid Thorne Research (Idaho), and seize $20,000 worth of vitamin products, and 11,000 pieces of literature. The company cannot afford to fight the battle in court because of high legal costs, and decides to no longer publish literature (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1991. FDA agents raid NutriCology (California), a nutritional supplement company. All FDA injunctions against it are later tossed out of court (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1991. Agents from the FDA and the Texas Department of Health again raid the Burzynski Research Clinic (Texas), and seize more products and materials. Dr. Burzynski eventually wins the fight against the FDA (http://www.naturalnews.com/032998_Burzynski_cancer_cures.html). – 1991, March. Armed Mexican police officers raid offices of alternative cancer clinic in Tijuana, and kidnap the owner without warrant or charges. They then ship him across the US border and into the hands of the US Justice Department, where he unlawfully spends two years in prison (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1992, May 6. Agents from the FDA and officers from the King County Police Department raid the Tahoma Clinic (Washington), a natural health clinic. Because Dr. Jonathan Wright has been giving patients injectable B vitamins in high doses, agents decide to storm the clinic with guns drawn, and seize product, computers, records, and other products. The FDA shows no valid warrant to justify its actions (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1992, June 2. FDA agents raid the personal home of Mihai Popescu (California) for producing and selling a natural supplement called GH-3. The raid involves agents stealing $5,000 worth of GH-3, personal records, computers, and other equipment, and results in the false arrest and imprisonment of Popescu, as well as the termination of his business (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1992, June 30. FDA agents raid Nature’s Way (Utah), a vitamin and nutritional supplement company, and seize bulk containers of primrose oil because the addition of vitamin E to the formula was allegedly “unapproved” (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1992, June. The FDA prompts the Texas Department of Health to conduct raids on numerous health food stores throughout Texas. They seize natural oils, aloe vera, zinc, vitamin C, and other natural products. Agents reportedly threaten store owners not to speak of the raid, or more raids will ensue. No valid warrants are presented, and no charges are ever filed against the stores (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1992, August 14. FDA agents raid Family Acupuncture Clinic (California), and seize $15,000 worth of natural tea pills. The products are left to spoil, and then sent back to China by the FDA (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1992. Federal agents arrest three vitamin company owners (California) for selling supplements freely available throughout Europe. Agents try to get the men imprisoned for a collective total of 990 years (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html). – 1993, May. Agents from the FDA raid Zerbo’s Health Food Store (Michigan) for “illegal drug trafficking” involving the natural supplements coenzyme Q10, selenium, carnitine, and GH-3. Agents threaten the owner’s 78-year-old father with imprisonment if the family attempts to fight the FDA’s indictment (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1993, May 12. Dozens of armed federal agents storm Hospital Santa Monica (California), an alternative cancer treatment center, seizing records, charts, computers, and other equipment. The agents also steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the hospital’s bank account, as well as from two vitamin companies with which it works, and even steal $80,000 from the hospital owner’s personal safe (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1993, May 12. Agents raid personal home of Kirwin Whitnah, claim he is selling “unapproved drugs.” No products are ever found, but agents proceed to terrorize a woman staying at the home, and seize thousands of dollars in equipment, literature, and even money orders (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1993, May 14. FDA agents raid Waco Natural Foods (Texas) in search of a natural supplement called deprenyl citrate. Owner Tom Wiggins tells agents that his attorney holds tremendous clout in the Waco area, and the agents immediately apologize, leave, and never return (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1993, June 24. FDA agents, a Federal Marshal, and a public relations specialist together raid International Nutrition Inc. (New Mexico), and seize $1 million worth of vitamins and nutritional supplements, as well as computers and business records. The owner ends up losing 80 percent of his business, and subsequently has to lay off 80 percent of his workforce (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 1993. Federal marshals raid Natural Vision International (Wisconsin), and steal 17,000 pairs of pinhole glasses that help customers exercise their eyes and improve vision. Valued at over $200,000, the confiscating of these products by the agents results in the company going out of business (http://www.myopia.org/fdaraids.htm). – 2001, March 23. Forty armed federal agents and USDA officials storm Three Shepherd’s Farm (Vermont), and confiscate and destroy the farm’s entire flock of sheep for supposedly having mad cow disease. Government laboratories verify previously that the sheep are healthy, and that sheep cannot even contract the disease, but the USDA persists in eliminating them anyway, destroying evidence and breaking various other laws along the way (http://www.threeshepherdscheese.com/AboutUs.aspx). – 2004, Spring. Upon being prompted by the FDA, state officials show up unannounced at Organic Pastures Dairy (California) and pretend to be evaluating cheese production. However OPD workers see Special Agent Jennifer King secretly taking pictures of private customer files, and they tell her to leave (http://grassfedonthehill.com/government-overreach/). – 2005, June 23. Federal agents perform a series of raids on medical marijuana dispensaries, businesses, and personal homes throughout Northern California. They arrest many individuals along the way, despite the fact that marijuana dispensaries are legal in California (http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20050623cp). – 2006, March 6. Ohio police, Ohio Department of Agriculture officials, FDA agents, and agents from unmarked vehicles intercept a raw milk pickup in the Cincinnati area. They confiscate milk and harass customers, and leave farm owner Gary Oakes so shaken up that he is hospitalized three times for post-traumatic stress disorder (http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/nov2006/sb20061121_167591_page_2.htm). – 2006, September 14. Armed agents storm the hunting preserve of Danny and Cindi Henshaw (Virginia), and perform SWAT-style raid of property They shoot dozens of hogs with 12-gauge shotguns and drag them off (http://www.readthehook.com/79983/cover-boar-war-pig-slaughter-raises-questions). – 2006, October 6. Armed agents from the FBI and FDA arrive at Growers Express (California), a produce company, and begin searching the premises for evidence that the company’s bagged spinach might be linked to an E. coli outbreak. Agents never even try contacting the company prior the raid, and find nothing in violation (http://www.naturalnews.com/020670.html). – 2006, October 13. Michigan Department of Agriculture agents and police officers stop Richard Hebron on the way to deliver raw milk to cow share owners. Agents seize his cell phone and wallet, and proceed to unload 453 gallons of fresh milk from his truck. A six-month investigation finds Hebron innocent, but he gets stuck paying a $1,000 “administrative” fee (http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2006/10/28/whew-the-raw-milk-gets-delivered-in-michigan-and-richard-hebron-makes-it-home-safely.html). – 2006, November 21. Dozens of armed agents storm Glencolton Farms (Ontario), a farm that produces dairy among other things, poring through every building and structure on the property. They steal records, computers, and milk processing equipment. Farm owner Michael Schmidt, who provides raw milk to cow share owners, as well as other farm-fresh food, is fined $3,500 and placed on two years probation (http://www.glencoltonfarms.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=29). – 2007, August. Pennsylvania Mennonite farmer Mark Nolt declares his God-given right to sell fresh milk and has his farm raided by federal and state agents, who seize $25,000 worth of milk, milk products, and other equipment. (http://www.farmfoodvoicesdc.com/2011/03/list-of-raids-agains-americas- small.html). – 2007, September 21. FDA agents spur the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to raid Double H Farm (Virginia) and seize and destroy pork products. Agents try to justify their actions by claiming the products contain the wrong price tags. Owners say they have been needlessly harassed by officials for years (http://www.readthehook.com/76761/pork-bust-local-farmers-arrested). – 2007, October 11. New York Department of Agriculture officials raid Meadowsweet Dairy (New York) and seize 260 pounds of raw milk products (http://ftcldf.org/meadowsweet%20dairy.html). – 2008, April 28. Agents again raid Mennonite farmer Mark Nolt’s (Pennsylvania) property, and steal more milk, milk products, and equipment. This time, agents charge and take him into custody (http://www.ftcldf.org/aa/aa-26apr2008.htm). – 2008, December 15. Armed agents storm Manna Storehouse (Ohio), a family farmhouse that operates an organic food buying cooperative. Agents terrorize and hold family hostage for eight hours while ransacking house, and seizing food, computers, and records (http://www.ftcldf.org/press/press-15dec2008.htm). – 2008, December 18. Agents pose as customers trying to buy goat cheese from Sharon Palmer’s Healthy Family Farms (California). She is then arrested and thrown in jail, and her businesses temporarily shut down (http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2009/1/8/the-strange-case-of-a-ca-goat-farmers-arrest-and-jailing-sha.html). – 2009, April 8. Undercover agents trick daughter of farmers Armand and Teddi Bechard (Missouri) into selling them raw milk, which sparked harassment and extensive legal troubles for the family (http://www.naturalnews.com/030974_raw_milk_victory.html). – 2009, January 16. Federal marshals raid Cocoon Nutrition (South Carolina), a nutritional supplement company, and arrest owner Stephen Heuer at gunpoint (http://www.naturalnews.com/025347.html). – 2010, April 14. Dozens of FDA, IRS, and FBI agents conduct full-scale raid on Maxam Nutraceuticals (Oregon). Company complies with all notices, but gets targeted anyway by a fully-armed, SWAT-style cadre of officers, who steal products, paperwork, computers, and personal files (http://www.naturalnews.com/032203_Maxam_Nutraceutics_FDA_raid.html). – 2010, April 20. Two FDA agents, two US Marshals, and one state trooper raid Rainbow Acres (Pennsylvania) at 5 am, breaking their warrant’s restrictions instructing an inspection at “reasonable business hours.” Agents scour the premises for hours and charge the farm with illegally selling raw milk across state lines (http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/aa/aa-26april2010.htm). – 2009, Fall. USDA inspector shows up at Dollarhite Family Farm (Missouri) and demands an inspection. After insisting there were no problems with the family’s small-scale raising of bunny rabbits, USDA officials later try to fine the family $90,000 for alleged violations (http://www.naturalnews.com/032476_rabbits_USDA.html). – 2010, May 26. Officials from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Health send armed deputies to raid Hartmann Farm (Minnesota). Agents order Mike and Diana Harmann to stop selling all meat and dairy products, and to stop delivering raw milk (http://www.ftcldf.org/food-freedom-under-attack-mn-kennedy.htm). – 2010, June 2. Agents from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, the Trade and Consumer Protection Agency, and local health officials, arrive unannounced at Hershberger Farm (Wisconsin). They violate private property signs, demand to do an inspection, and proceed to take shut coolers and order that raw milk be dumped in a field (http://www.ftcldf.org/news/WI-DATCP-raids-hershberger-kennedy.htm). – 2010, June 10. Officials from various health and law enforcement agencies raid the personal home of Rae Lynn Sandvig (Minnesota), a raw milk and local food consumer, for allegedly “assisting in the sale of raw milk” from her home by sharing food with neighbors (http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/swarms/mn-mda-consumer-kennedy.htm). – 2010, June 30. Various federal agents, and even Canadian agents, raid Rawesome Foods (California), a private, raw food buying club, and steal computers, raw food products, and other materials. They hold members and workers hostage for many hours before finally leaving with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of product (http://www.naturalnews.com/030136_Rawesome_foods_raid.html). – 2010, August 26. Agents show up at Morningland Dairy (Missouri) and confiscate cheese samples for testing. After improper handling of the samples, which allegedly return positive for contamination, the farm appeals. Officials then demand that the farm destroy its entire 50,000 pound inventory of raw, artisan cheese, valued at $250,000 (http://www.naturalnews.com/030148_Morningland_Dairy_food_tyranny.html). – 2010, September 21. Federal agents arrive unannounced at Camino de Paz Montessori School and Farm (New Mexico) on supposed suspicion of marijuana. After scouring the premises and terrorizing teachers and students, they find nothing but fruits, vegetables, and other produce (http://www.naturalnews.com/030573_marijuana_raids.html). – 2010, September 21. After years of fighting back against federal tyranny, the Christian church ministry Daniel Chapter One (Rhode Island) is raided by agents from the FDA, IRS, the US Army Criminal Investigation Command and several other agencies. Agents break into the home of owners and steal computers, paperwork, files, personal documents, and hold owner at gunpoint (http://www.naturalnews.com/033265_Daniel_Chapter_One_government_raids.html). – 2010, October 15. Georgia State Department of Agriculture officials illegally search raw milk buying club truck without warrant, seizes and orders 110 gallons of product to be dumped (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMfQXxVAPgk). – 2011, March 9. Minnesota officials again target Hartmann Farms (Minnesota), this time going after James Roettger, a man who helps distribute the farm’s food. Agents pull Roettger over while driving, seize as much as $6,000 worth of food from his van, and arrest him (http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2011/3/10/what-do-you-call-the-mn-campaign-against-nutrient-dense-food.html). – 2011, June 3. At the prompting of the FDA US Marshals raid Wyldewood Cellars (Kansas), producer of natural elderberry juice, and confiscate the entire stock of product, claiming it is an “unapproved drug” (http://www.naturalnews.com/032631_elderberry_juice_FDA_raid.html). – 2011, August 3. Slew of agents conduct second raid on Rawesome Foods (California), a private, raw buying club, and confiscate everything in sight. They handcuff and arrest founder James Stewart, without warrant, and proceed to destroy the shop’s entire food inventory (http://www.naturalnews.com/033220_Rawesome_Foods_armed_raids.html). Please share this article so that others may learn this truth about the FDA’s war on farmers, food freedom and nutrition.

Breaking news: Multi-agency armed raid hits Rawesome Foods, Healthy Family Farms for selling raw milk and cheese

(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). 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. Note to NaturalNews readers: 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. James is now being held at the Pacific division police department at Centinela and Culver in Los Angeles. He is being held at $123,000 bail with no possibility of using bail bonds. Law enforcement has demanded that if he comes up with the money to cover bail, he must disclose to them all the sources of that money. (This is an illegal demand!) Law enforcement is now destroying all the Rawesome Foods inventory by pouring the raw milk down the drain and collecting the raw cheese for destruction. Massive public protests are needed to teach these criminal law enforcement agencies that they cannot illegally arrest and persecute individuals merely for buying and selling raw milk and cheese. We are organizing a public protest day in cooperation with James. Please watch NaturalNews for an announcement of that. Story is developing… Right now, James needs help raising money with his legal defense needs . Our non-profit Consumer Wellness Center is currently serving as the collection point for donations. You may donate right now at www.ConsumerWellness.org (100% of the donations go directly to James’ legal defense needs, the Consumer Wellness Center keeps nothing). See this video of James Stewart talking about his farm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foKg-oShJP0 Here’s background on Healthy Family Farms which was also targeted in the raid: Healthy Family Farms in Santa Paula, California: “Healthy Family Farms is a sustainable, pasture-based farming operation. We raise all our livestock on pasture. We raise all of our animals from birth. We do not feed any of our animals soy, choosing instead to feed animals as they are designed to be fed. This results in healthy, sturdy animals needing no hormones, antibiotics, or other artificial “enhancements.” We harvest our animals humanely by hand before they are delivered to the farmers markets. We never freeze our products. In addition to farmer’s markets sales, we have an active CSA, which offers discounts to our valued members.” Watch NaturalNews.com for more breaking news on this story . We are fed up with these illegal mob-style raids against the raw foods community! It is time to protest and fight back against tyranny!

Trio of Los Angeles raw food advocates reportedly charged with raw milk conspiracy (update 1)

(NaturalNews) The raid on Rawesome Foods by a combined force of agents from the FDA, LA County Dept of Agriculture, CDC and the LA County Sheriff’s office wasn’t the only SWAT-style armed raid that took place today. Sharon Palmer , a mom and owner of Healthy Family Farms was also arrested and taken to jail. A third woman, Victoria Bloch, the LA County liaison for the Weston A Price Foundation (www.WestonaPrice.org) , was also reportedly arrested, NaturalNews has learned. Sharon Palmer is being charged with “mislabeling cheese,” NaturalNews has learned. (Yes, mislabeling cheese! This earns you an armed raid in America today, even while the real crooks in Washington run free…) This is on top of the conspiracy charge which has been leveled against all three (James, Sharon and Victoria). Victoria Bloch is being charged with conspiracy under Section 182A of the California penal code (http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/182.html), which states that that law applies “If two or more persons conspire to commit any crime.” As NaturalNews previously reported (http://www.naturalnews.com/033220_Rawesome_Foods_armed_raids.html), the SWAT-style raid was conducted like a terrorist operation , where the cops immediately went after Rawesome’s cash and then began vandalizing and destroying the store’s entire inventory. This raid was an act of economic terrorism against a legitimate, ethical business selling wholesome, healthful products to a very happy group of members. A massive public protest on the front steps of the LA courthouse is being planned for the morning of August 4th, where James Stewart has been promised a hearing before a judge. NaturalNews is calling on its readers and supporters to join in this protest to help send a message to the law enforcement tyrants that we will not tolerate our health food stores being terrorized by criminal cops and rogue federal agencies . We will announce the time and place of the protest as soon as we are provided the details. Watch for that announcement here on NaturalNews.com or on our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/HealthRanger Video coverage of the event is being provided by a contributing reporter whose name we will reveal after the video reports are filed (in order to protect him from possible oppression by L.A. law enforcement thugs). Matt Drudge is linking to this story from www.DrudgeReport.com and Alex Jones is also covering it from www.InfoWars.com We’ve also posted a CounterThink cartoon on this raw milk topic. You can view the cartoon at: http://counterthink.com/Raw_Milk_Lineup.asp Spread the word, folks. Enough is enough! We must take a stand against this government-run campaign of terror against health food retailers . It is time to stop government-run terrorism against health food stores . It’s time we fought back and let these criminals know we will not be treated like food slaves by a corrupt, criminally-run government that wishes to force everyone to drink DEAD MILK and DEAD CHEESE (which they know causes disease). This is it, friends! Big Government has declared war on the innocent. The Obama administration, which has already gone out of its way to promote yet more GMOs in the food supply, is now overseeing government-sponsored terrorism against the health food movement. If you don’t take a stand against this, you might as well lay down, surrender to Big Brother, and eat your soylent green… We are collecting funds for the legal defense of Rawesome Foods. Please donate through the Consumer Wellness Center at www.ConsumerWellness.org where 100% of the donations go directly to their legal defense. Thank you all for your sharing of these stories and your concerns. We are fighting for our basic rights and freedoms against a police state cabal of criminals who now run our federal government and will stop at nothing to turn innocent citizens into gulag prisoners.

Dangerous levels of lead found in many garden hoses

(NaturalNews) Allowing your kids to play with the garden hose, filling the inflatable kiddie pool, nourishing your garden with hose water — these all seem like harmless activities. However, research is now proving otherwise. Many commercially bought water hoses contain dangerously high levels of lead which leech into the water flowing through them. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, water sitting in a garden hose that has been left in the sun can contain a level of lead that reaches 100 times over what is considered a safe amount. Many garden hoses are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – a toxic plastic – and lead is often used as a stabilizer in PVC. The dangerous levels of lead in garden hoses could potentially cause lead poisoning, cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm. According to a special ABC report on Good Morning America, reporters from ABC’s Phoenix affiliate KNXV-TV randomly purchased 10 garden hoses at places such as Wal-Mart, Target, Ace Hardware, and Home Depot (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=3369894&page=1). These reporters filled sections of the garden hoses with clean water, sealed the ends and put these hoses outside for about a day. The water was then delivered to a lab. Five of the 10 hoses, or 50%, came back showing levels of lead much higher than 15 parts per billion (ppb), which is what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems safe for drinking water. Four of those hoses came back showing extremely high lead levels. The same report found that some garden variety hoses are leaking up to 20 times the amount considered safe for usage. Consumer Reports also tested 16 of the most popular hoses sold nationwide, finding that many leached up to 100 times the safe amount at the initial flush of standing water. Imagine the water flowing through these hoses contaminated with such high levels of lead – do you want your kids splashing around in it in a kiddie pool, or drinking it in the midst of summer play outdoors? Why exactly is lead exposure so dangerous? Lead is highly toxic and harmful even in very low doses. The Environmental Protection Agency clearly states on their website that exposure to lead in water that is being consumed above the action level, or 15 ppb, can result in delays in physical and mental development in children, anemia, and muscle problems. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure and, eventually with heavy exposure, the development of kidney problems or nerve disorders. According to the National Safety Council, young children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to lead’s harmful effects because their brains and central nervous system are still being developed. For these children, even very low levels of exposure can have disastrous effects, from reduced IQ and behavioral problems to stunted growth and kidney damage. At higher levels of exposure, children could become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die from lead poisoning. Within the last decade, children have died from lead poisoning in both New Hampshire and in Alabama. Lead can also enter tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials, which is another important reason to invest in a good water filter. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes; however, new homes are also at risk because even legally “lead-free” plumbing can contain up to 8 % lead. Lead-laden soil and your beloved garden And let’s not forget about the fate of your garden. The same lead-infused water your children may be playing in is most likely also being used to saturate the soil your fresh-grown veggies are growing in. A disheartening New York Times article on lead in garden soil said that lead is “surprisingly prevalent and persistent” in both urban and suburban soil, which is more increasingly being used for the foundation of home gardens. Many health officials, soil scientists and even environmental engineers are concerned that the increasing popularity of urban “backyard” gardening will put more people at risk for lead poisoning and other hazardous health effects especially those that don’t protect themselves. The EPA and Department of Housing and Urban Development suggest — but don’t require — lead levels in soil of lower than 400 parts per million (ppm) in children’s play areas, and 1,200 p.p.m. in all other soil. However, many and cities, states, and entire countries have set much lower limits, such as in the Netherlands, where 40 p.p.m. is considered highly substandard. Most unpolluted soil averages about 10 p.p.m. In the New York Times article mentioned, one random urban resident’s garden had soil containing lead levels of 939 p.p.m. Dangerous amounts of lead have been documented for almost a decade in backyard and community gardens in major cities such as New York, New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and many others. Lead-laden soil has been found in both inner city neighborhoods and suburban areas. The reasons for these hazardous levels of soil contamination are many, from lead paint, leaded gasoline, lead arsenate pesticides, lead plumbing, lead batteries and automotive parts, roadways, and so on. While many of these products may have been banned years ago, the remnants of highly toxic lead often remain in the environment. Now, lead-laden garden hoses can be added to the list of dangerous hidden lead. How to avoid lead contamination While environmental engineers and soil experts have said any place is potentially tainted with soil contaminated with lead, there are steps that can be taken in order to protect yourself and your family. First, eliminate the potentially poisonous garden hose and replace it with one you know for certain is safe and lead-free. This will drastically reduce the amount of lead being deposited in your yard and notably eliminate direct exposure when watering by hand or caring for the garden. A lead-free garden hose is also much safer for providing children a much-needed drink or play in the sprinklers, and pets will also be spared of potential lead poisoning from water bowls filled from the hose. Warning labels accompany hoses in some cases, but not all. A lead-free garden hose will clearly be marked as safe for drinking. One idea is to invest in a medical grade hose with nickel-plated fittings. These hoses are often sold as marine or recreational vehicle (RV) hoses and are commonly sold in marine/RV stores. The types of garden hoses that Consumer Reports claim to be safe from lead contamination are as follows: • Teknor Apex Boat and Camper NeverKink • Swan Marine/Camper • Gardener’s Supply Co. 33-469 • Better Homes and Gardens Kink-free Keep in mind that these manufacturers might produce other hoses that are not lead-free, so read packaging closely to ensure you have the right hose. Although it is impossible to eliminate all contaminates from the environment, switching to a lead-free garden hose is a good start as well as an intelligent choice for the health conscious consumer. The widespread presence of lead contamination in soil doesn’t mean you have to give up gardening, but it does suggest the necessity of caution, as well as a possible change in plot design and crop choice. Local public health departments and county extension services often offer free soil testing; at the least, they can recommend companies or schools that do it for a small fee. Individuals generally mail dirt in sealed plastic bags for analysis. If high levels of lead are found in your soil, experts advise covering it with sod. You can also alkalinize the contaminated soil by adding organic matter such as compost and lime, or replace it entirely. Soil with a pH level above 7 binds with lead, which lessens the chance of absorption by both crops and the human body. Fortunately, the body will eliminate low levels of lead naturally, as long as you maintain a healthy daily diet. Home gardens can be planted with fruiting crops such as squash, eggplant, tomatoes, corn and beans because these plants don’t easily absorb lead. Some lead-leaching crops are leafy greens, herbs, and root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Sources: http://containergardening.about.com/b/2009/05/21/warning-lead-in-garden-hoses.htm http://healthy-family.org/caryn/24/lead-poisoning-and-your-garden-hose http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/garden/14lead.html?_r=1&hp http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=3369894&page=1 http://containergardening.about.com/od/greencontainergardening/a/Gardenhose.htm http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/index.cfm

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