Was it one of those frozen packs? If so they probably say that to make sure it's heated all the way thru because lets face it when you bite into soemthin supposed to be hot and its cold in the middle its a little irritating and unexpected. I dont' think it should matter if they are raw or not, I eat raw veggies and as long as they are washed properly and arent' rotten there shouldn't be a problem. Hope this helped!
\"As soon as you trust yourself,you will know how to live.\"
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
\"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.\"
Benjamin Franklin