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A NJ Food Company Is Being Sued for $25M Over Fake Italian Tomato Claims

A hand holding a can of Cento crushed tomatoes in a grocery store aisle

A NJ Food Company Is Being Sued for $25M Over Fake Italian Tomato Claims

A hand holding a can of Cento crushed tomatoes in a grocery store aisle

Peter Candia

A New Jersey-based food company is facing a lawsuit accusing it of misleading consumers with its “Certified San Marzano” labeling—a claim two California residents say amounts to “tomato fraud,” according to NJ.com.

West Deptford’s Cento Fine Foods was sued on May 4 in federal court in California. The plaintiffs allege that the company’s labeling is misleading—falsely implying its canned tomatoes meet the strict Italian certification standards required to carry the San Marzano name. 

San Marzano tomatoes are a protected Italian product under Europe’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) rules, which require the tomatoes to be grown and processed in the Agro Sarnese-Nocerino region of southern Italy and approved by an Italian oversight consortium. The lawsuit argues that Cento’s labeling does not accurately reflect where its tomatoes come from. Meanwhile, consumers are paying premium prices based on alleged authenticity. 

The two California residents are seeking $500 each, plus at least $25 million to be returned to affected customers, and $10,000 payments to each plaintiff.

Cento Fine Foods pushed back. “We believe the current claims are entirely without merit,” the company said in a statement. “Cento firmly refutes all of the inaccurate and wrongful claims in the complaint.” The company maintains that its tomatoes are grown in the Sarnese-Nocerino region at the base of Mount Vesuvius, farmed by professionals, and audited by an independent third party in Italy.

“At Cento Fine Foods, we take nothing more seriously than the quality and integrity of our products,” the company added. “We take pride in the fact that our labels accurately describe the products inside.”

This isn’t the first time Cento has been faced with claims of tomato fraud. The company successfully defended a similar New York lawsuit in 2019. The brand is seeking a prompt dismissal.

My take: Who cares about authentic San Marzano when the best tomatoes money can buy are grown right here in New Jersey? I’ll stick to Sclafani and Jersey Fresh canned tomatoes while the two parties battle it out in court.

Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.

Picture of Peter Candia

Peter Candia

Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.