Two individuals from California have initiated legal proceedings against Cento Fine Foods, accusing the company of participating in “tomato fraud” by asserting that the tomatoes used in one of its canned products are genuine San Marzano tomatoes sourced from Italy.
The plaintiffs argue that Cento’s labeling of its product as “Certified San Marzano” is “false, misleading, and unfair.” They contend that the tomatoes do not possess the qualities or flavor typically associated with authentic San Marzano tomatoes.
Cento Fine Foods, which is headquartered in New Jersey, has not yet provided a response to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
According to information on the company’s website, their San Marzano tomatoes are certified by an independent organization named Agri-Cert. However, the lawsuit claims that Cento’s labeling implies that the product has received an official DOP designation. This designation, which stands for ‘protected designation of origin,’ is granted to San Marzano tomatoes by an Italian consortium.
The lawsuit asserts that Cento’s labels are designed to “deceitfully suggest that they are the renowned San Marzano tomatoes cultivated using traditional methods and certified by [the] Consortium.”
The consortium, known as Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, is responsible for promoting and overseeing the sale of San Marzano tomatoes, which the lawsuit states must adhere to “strict production and quality standards.”
Cento claims on its website that their San Marzano tomatoes originate from the town of San Marzano in the Campania region of southern Italy. The company describes these tomatoes as having a “thicker wall, fewer seeds, and lower acidity compared to other varieties, making them perfect for authentic Italian dishes.” Cento also asserts that it is the only U.S. company with a production facility located in this region.
Furthermore, Cento customers can track the precise field where their tomatoes were grown by scanning the lot code on the can, as indicated on the company’s website.
This lawsuit is not the first instance where the authenticity of Cento’s tomatoes has been questioned; a previous lawsuit filed in New York in 2019 alleged that the company does not produce as many San Marzano tomatoes as it advertises.
Edited by Alain Sherter
