California consumers accuse popular Italian food brand of tomato fraud
This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
A popular U.S.food distributor has long promised premium, Italian tomatoes in its products.
Two Californians claim the company is committing tomato fraud.A lawsuit filed this month alleges that Cento Fine Foods, a U.S.-based Italian food distributor, falsely labels its products as containing San Marzano tomatoes.
The tomatoes in question are a premium variety that can be grown only in Italy’s Campania region and are recognized by the food industry as the “Ferrari or Prada” of tomatoes, the lawsuit claims.Cento, which has won in a similar case in New York, says its tomatoes are from the right region though they do not have the same Italian government certification.
The complaint alleged that the company is falsely branding its tomato products because they lack the proper certification required to use the name.“They lack the taste, consistency, and other physical characteristics associated by consumers with certified San Marzano Tomatoes,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs in the California suit claim they were misled by deceptive labeling when purchasing the product more than a dozen times in California stores.The lawsuit seeks class-action certification and asks the judge to award more than $25 million to customers.
Cento refuted the claims made in the complaint and will seek dismissal of the lawsuit in court, a company spokesperson told The Times on Monday.The ongoing battle to define who may use the San Marzano name underscores the importance of food branding at every level.The case goes beyond regional requirements, such as calling something Champagne because it is made in that part of France.
It is more akin to Washington Apples.The Washington Apple label is backed by a system of requirements and checks.
Apple growers, even if they are in the Western state, can only label their fruit as a Washington Apple if they have gone through that process.Otherwise, hav...