Food manufacturer Cento is committing "tomato fraud," lawsuit alleges
CBS News • • business
Key Points:
- Two California residents are suing Cento Fine Foods, accusing the company of "tomato fraud" by falsely labeling its canned tomatoes as authentic San Marzano variety from Italy.
- The plaintiffs allege Cento's "Certified San Marzano" label is misleading and that the tomatoes do not meet the quality and taste standards of genuine San Marzano tomatoes.
- The lawsuit claims Cento's packaging falsely implies an official DOP (protected designation of origin) certification granted by the Italian consortium Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, which regulates authentic San Marzano tomatoes.
- Cento states its San Marzano tomatoes come from the Campania region in Italy and are certified by a third-party agency, Agri-Cert, with customers able to trace the origin of the tomatoes via a lot code on the can.
- The company has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
