Cento Fine Foods sued over alleged San Marzano 'tomato fraud'
May 8-A couple of California plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods, claiming tomato fraud.
According to multiple reports, the plaintiffs are suing the Italian food manufacturer, alleging its 'Certified San Marzano' label is false. The plaintiffs also call the labeling "misleading and unfair," claiming the product lacks certification from the Italian consortium that oversees San Marzano DOP tomatoes.
"Cento's tomatoes also lack the quality and taste of real fruit," CBS News writes, citing the details of the lawsuit.
San Marzano tomatoes can be grown practically anywhere, but to be official San Marzano tomatoes, they have to come from the Campania region of southern Italy. It's similar to Champagne: Sparkling wine can be made anywhere, but unless it comes from the Champagne region of France, it is not Champagne.
The official San Marzano DOP consortium describes San Marzano tomatoes this way: "The fruits have a typical elongated shape and usually measure between six and eight centimeters; when ripe, the color is bright red. The thin skin peels off easily, enclosing firm, fleshy pulp with few seeds.
"The interior has two or three chambers and the taste is typically strong, sweet and sour. The dense, fleshy pulp ensures that San Marzano does not crush during processing, producing firm peeled tomatoes and consistent sauces."
DOP is an Italian abbreviation for "protected designation of origin." That places San Marzano tomatoes in the same general category as products such as Idaho potatoes, Florida oranges and Napa Valley wine.
"We believe this claim is entirely without merit. We have previously successfully defended a comparable lawsuit in New York federal court and will defend this claim vigorously as well, including seeking prompt dismissal," Cento said in a statement published by ABC News.
"The plaintiffs are seeking more than $25 million in damages, claiming consumers paid a premium believing they were getting the real deal," fellow Hearst publication, Delish, writes.
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