Popular Italian food brand accused of ‘tomato fraud’ in new lawsuit
California Residents Sue Cento Fine Foods for Alleged “Tomato Fraud”
Two Californians have filed a lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods, accusing the company of misleading consumers with false “Certified San Marzano” labeling on their canned tomato products. The plaintiffs claim that the tomatoes used by Cento do not live up to the reputation of genuine San Marzano tomatoes, which are highly regarded for their superior taste and quality in Italian cuisine.
The lawsuit alleges that Cento is the “primary culprit of this tomato fraud” in the US and that their marketing practices are deceptive and unfair. Despite Cento’s claims of using certified San Marzano tomatoes, the lawsuit argues that the fruits lack the distinctive taste, consistency, and physical characteristics associated with authentic San Marzano tomatoes.
Cento defends its product by stating that their San Marzano tomatoes are certified by Agri-Cert, an independent third-party agency, according to strict guidelines set in Italy. However, the lawsuit points out that Cento stopped seeking certification from the official consortium responsible for verifying San Marzano tomatoes’ authenticity due to labeling requirements.
The lawsuit also mentions that Cento was allegedly “ejected” from the consortium for committing fraud, further adding to the controversy surrounding the company’s tomato products. Cento claims that their tomatoes are grown in the San Marzano region of Campania, Italy, and allows customers to trace the origin of their product using a unique code on the can.
While Cento denies the allegations of tomato fraud, a lawyer for the company stated that they plan to vigorously defend against the claims. This recent lawsuit comes after a similar case in New York in 2019, where Cento was accused of not producing as many San Marzano tomatoes as they claimed.
