A proposed class action lawsuit filed in California on Monday alleges "tomato fraud" by the popular Italian food distributor Cento Fine Foods.
The lawsuit, filed by two California residents, claims the company is illegally and falsely branding its tomato products as containing San Marzano Certified tomatoes.
Cento has dismissed the claims and called the allegations meritless.
San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomato originating in Italy's Campania region and are renowned for their intense, sweet flavor. The lawsuit alleges the tomatoes in Cento's San Marzano tomato products are inauthentic and inferior to the "Ferrari or Prada" of canned tomatoes, quoting from a blog post on Martha Stewart's website describing the tomatoes.
"Defendant's marketing and labeling of Cento San Marzanos as 'Certified San Marzano' tomatoes is false, misleading, and unfair," the lawsuit states. "They lack the taste, consistency, and other physical characteristics associated by consumers with certified San Marzano Tomatoes."
San Marzano tomatoes are afforded protected status -- "DOP" or "Denominazione d'Origine Protetta" -- in the European Union, like other region-specific goods including Champagne and Parmesan cheese.
An independent consortium, Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, regulates the sale of the tomatoes to ensure they are grown in the right region using the proper techniques.
The consortium's website details the categorization of the San Marzano tomato, which...
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