Perusing through the news last week I discovered an unbelievable story of government interference.  From what I have seen of Los Angeles, the city seems to have a harsh, gritty exterior. But when I read about a raid on a raw foods co-op, I was dumb founded. 

In the name of “saving people from their own food,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) barged in under false pretenses to talk and take a look around but ended up confiscating all of the products and arresting the owner. 

Listening to the interviews of the people who belonged to this raw food club where they are able to share cheeses, raw goat’s milk, honey and organically grown vegetables, I have come to the realization that the federal government has gone way over their boundaries. These people cared about their health. They cared about the health of their family and were trying to do all they could to live a better life. Legally this co-op operated without making any profit. All who wanted to participate donated money for the food and volunteers helped set up the warehouse every week.

Some people who are very allergic or live with debilitating illnesses depended upon this small co-op to stay healthy. One such man interviewed, told of his mother who had Alzheimer’s and because of her diet of raw goat’s milk and cheeses, she has far extended her life expectancy and can function very well because of the diet he has provided for her.

Although it was reported that raw milk is illegal to sell and apparently can cause paralysis, many health food experts say that is not always the case. The biggest complaint many raw milk drinkers say is that the milk sanctioned by the FDA is filled with antibiotics.  As American citizens, we have the right to choose what we put in our bodies and as resourceful as we are, we can usually find what we want anywhere. But with the crack down on independent organic food growers, bartering and trading might be a thing of the past.

I never thought I would see the day where citizens of the free world could not choose what kind of food to eat for the health and welfare of their own bodies. From my own research in healthy eating, I know that eating foods in a raw state is better for the body than processed foods.  Anything in its natural form can be assimilated into the body easier and can sustain life better overall.

The attacks on raw milk have been taking place in other parts of the country as well and raids into dairies and raw food co-ops have been shut down. With all the illegal drugs and other crime we see occurring every day around the country, shutting down raw food co-ops from law abiding citizens is rather ridiculous.

Personally, I don’t want to eat genetically altered food or antibiotic milk either but with federal government crack downs on natural, wholesome, organically grown food, I don’t have a chance unless it’s grown in my own back yard.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is the author of four books. Her latest, “Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow’s Perspective” is available on Amazon.com. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.stregthenyourhome.com www.valeriesteimle.blogspot.com.