Canned Tomato Controversy
Two residents from California are taking legal action against St. Fine Foods, alleging “tomato fraud.” The lawsuit claims that the tomatoes in their canned products don’t actually live up to the company’s high standards associated with the Ferrari tomato variety.
A class action complaint reveals that the plaintiffs are pointing fingers at Cento, based in New Jersey, describing it as a key player in this supposed “tomato fraud” by using the “Certified San Marzano” label in the U.S.
The court documents argue that the taste of these tomatoes is nowhere near the rich flavor of genuine San Marzano tomatoes—known for their thick walls, lower seed count, and decreased acidity; qualities that make them a favorite in Italian cooking.
As stated in the complaint, “San Marzano tomatoes are considered the Ferrari or Prada of canned tomato varieties. Fans believe they justify paying higher prices compared to other Italian and domestic types.”
The lawsuit further asserts that the marketing of Cento San Marzano, along with its “Certified San Marzano” labeling, is misleading and unreasonable.
Cento maintains that their San Marzano tomatoes are certified by Agrisato, an independent third-party organization, which follows strict Italian guidelines.
In Europe, these premium tomatoes enjoy special protection similar to that of champagne and Parmesan cheese. The complaint mentions an independent group, Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, which ensures that any tomatoes labeled as San Marzano originate from legitimate regions and meet high standards.
Cento claims it voluntarily opted out of seeking certification from this consortium in the 2010s due to strict labeling requirements. However, the lawsuit alleges that Cento was expelled from the consortium for engaging in dishonest practices.
Cento asserts that their tomatoes are cultivated in Italy’s San Marzano region, located about 35 miles southeast of Naples. They even provide a tracking feature on their website for customers to trace the origin of their products using a can code.
A lawyer for St. Fine Foods characterized the allegations as “absolutely without merit” and stated that they plan to “vigorously” defend against them.
“We believe this claim is completely without merit. We’ve successfully defended a similar case in New York federal court, and we intend to seek immediate dismissal,” the lawyers added.
This isn’t the first time Cento has faced scrutiny; in 2019, the company was involved in a lawsuit in New York claiming they couldn’t produce as many San Marzano tomatoes as they specified.
