California Residents Sue Cento Fine Foods Over 'Tomato Fraud' in San Marzano Cans

Two California residents have filed a lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods, accusing the company of 'tomato fraud' by marketing its canned tomatoes as authentic San Marzano from Italy.

The plaintiffs argue that Cento's 'Certified San Marzano' label is false, misleading and unfair. They claim the tomatoes in the product do not have the quality and taste of the real variety.

Cento Fine Foods, based in New Jersey, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The company's website states that its San Marzano tomatoes are certified by an independent third-party agency, Agri-Cert. But the lawsuit alleges that Cento's labeling implies an official DOP designation. DOP stands for protected designation of origin, a label granted to San Marzano tomatoes by an Italian consortium.

Cento's label designs falsely suggest the tomatoes are the famous San Marzano variety grown in the traditional method and certified by the consortium, according to the suit.

The consortium, Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, promotes and regulates sales of these tomatoes. The tomatoes must meet strict production and quality standards, the lawsuit states.

Cento's website notes that San Marzano tomatoes come from the town of that name in Italy's Campania region. The company describes them as having a thicker tomato wall, fewer seeds and less acidity than other tomatoes, which makes them ideal for authentic Italian cuisine. Cento claims to be the only U.S. company with a production facility in the region.

Customers can scan the lot code on Cento cans to trace the exact field where the tomatoes were grown, the company's website says.