Popular Italian food brand accused of 'tomato fraud' in new lawsuit
Two Californians are suing Cento Fine Foods for allegedly mislabeling its canned tomatoes as 'Certified San Marzano.'Summary
Two California residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods, alleging that the company is committing "tomato fraud" by misrepresenting its canned tomato products. The plaintiffs claim that the tomatoes used in Cento's "Certified San Marzano" products do not meet the standards of genuine San Marzano tomatoes, which are prized in Italian cuisine for their thicker walls, fewer seeds, and lower acidity. The lawsuit characterizes San Marzano tomatoes as the "Ferrari or Prada of canned tomato varieties." Cento, based in New Jersey, maintains that its tomatoes are certified by Agri-Cert and are grown in the San Marzano region of Campania, Italy. The company also stated that it voluntarily stopped seeking certification from the Italian consortium Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP in the 2010s due to labeling requirements. A lawyer for Cento has dismissed the claims as "entirely without merit" and stated that the company plans to "vigorously" defend the allegations. Cento was previously the subject of a similar lawsuit in 2019.
(Source：New York Post)