Beware the raw-food police! Or, depending on one’s perspective, raw food itself.

“I still can’t believe they took our yogurt.” So says a volunteer at Rawesome Foods, referring to a recent raid by federal, state and local authorities on an organic grocery in Venice.

The raid -- and the larger issues -- are detailed by L.A. Times staff writer P.J. Huffstutter in the story, “Raw-Food Raid Highlights a Hunger.” She sums up the matter this way:

“On one side are government regulators who say they are enforcing rules designed to protect consumers from unsafe foods and to provide a level playing field for producers. On the other side are ‘healthy food’ consumers — a faction of foodies who challenge government science and seek food in its most pure form.”

Here are two solid overviews of raw food: one from the Health section, “The Draw -- and Drawbacks -- of Raw,” and one from Livestrong.com, “Cooked Food Vs. Raw Food Diet.”

And here’s the abstract of a study, published in the October 2005 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, on the long-term consumption of raw food. The cholesterol picture is not as clear as one might think.

-- Tami Dennis