Three People Arrested For Illegal Sale & Production Of Unpasteurized Dairy Products, Locations Include Venice's Rawesome

Photo by Ken_Mayor via Flickr.

Patrons of Healthy Family Farms stands in L.A., Ventura and Santa Barbara farmers markets plus Rawesome in Venice, drop your dairy products. These locations have allegedly been selling unpasteurized goat milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir.

Sharon Ann Palmer - owner of Healthy Family Farms, LLC, in Santa Paula - and Eugenie Victoria Bloch - a Healthy Family Farms employee - were both arrested today on criminal conspiracy charges stemming from the alleged illegal production and sale of unpasteurized goat milk, goat cheese and other products.

James Cecil Stewart, who runs Venice's Rawesome, was also arrested today on similar charges.

The complaint totals thirteen counts, four of which are conspiracy.

Prosecutors say Healthy Family Farms has operated without license or permit for milk production since 2007. Palmer and Healthy Family Farms are charged in nine of the thirteen counts. Bloch faces three conspiracy counts.

Rawesome, a health market in Venice, failed to obtain a business permit or license since its opening more than six years ago. Stewart faces thirteen counts.

A year-long investigation exposed the sale of unpasteurized products from the aforementioned locations. Investigators made undercover purchases of the products and discovered that customers were required to pay a membership fee of up to $50 or purchase a one-time day pass at Rawesome to purchase products.

Bloch allegedly informed undercover operatives that the membership fees and paperwork were necessary for legal reasons, adding that they were not supposed to sell dairy products to nonmembers.

Manufacturing and sale of of unpasteurized dairy products is permitted in California, but applicable licenses and permits are required. Regular veterinarian inspections of the animals and accordance with equipment and sanitation requirements are enforced.

Both Stewart and Bloch's arraignments are slated for Thursday. Palmer's arraignment hearing has yet to be scheduled.