He grew up in Berkeley, then lived in Wisconsin for nine years before returning to the Bay Area, making him both a local and a transplant. One suit filed in New York in February alleges fraud, saying there's no way Cento can produce that many San Marzano tomatoes. ... Driver's 'abysmal' record might cost trucking company big in lawsuit over I-95 wreck; A complaint filed in the suit claims a tool on Cento’s website that allows buyers to find the field where each can of tomatoes was grown shows that some of the tomatoes were grown elsewhere in Italy’s Campania region. Italy's favorite candy, shop our wonderful collection of Torrone products! GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. The lawsuit points out that although true San Marzano tomatoes are grown only in Agro Sarnese-Nocerino within the Campania region, other farms located within the same region also grow tomatoes. Cento. San Marzanos are more than twice as expensive as conventional canned tomatoes. He spends his time outside of work re-learning the Bay Area and losing his tolerance for cold weather. The suit alleges that some of Cento's tomatoes come from the adjacent Campania region, and that the firm's products are certified by a third-party organization other than the Cosorzio di Tutela del Pomodora San Marzano DOP. A lawsuit filed in San Francisco by three Californians says the tomatoes sold as San Marzano come from a neighboring region in Italy and are not … Cento. Those standards don’t apply in the United States, meaning sellers can use the widely recognized name on tomatoes that wouldn’t pass muster in their homeland. 19-0974 (E.D.N.Y., filed February 19, 2019). Nico Savidge is a reporter covering courts, crime and law enforcement for The Mercury News. A New Jersey food company is now at the center of a class action lawsuit alleging fraudulent tomatoes. Recently, an unfounded wrongful class action lawsuit was filed claiming that Cento Certified San Marzano Tomatoes are not genuine. Each can features the perfect combination of sweet tomato flavor and fresh, aromatic basil. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. “At Cento, we take pride in the truthfulness and accuracy of our product labels,” the company said in a statement. Cento Tomato Class Action Lawsuit A recent class action lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods Inc. alleges that the company has been deceiving many consumers when claiming that its canned San Marzano tomatoes were the “certified,” real deal San Marzanos, which are known to be possibly the most “rare” and “premium” types of tomato. A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging that Cento Fine Foods Inc. misleadingly markets its tomatoes as “Certified San Marzano” without having the proper certification. The suit, filed by three Northern California home cooks in federal court last week, accuses the New Jersey food company Cento of “false, misleading and deceptive advertising” on cans labeled as San Marzano tomatoes. We do not use Chinese tomatoes in our San Marzano Tomatoes or in any of our other tomato products. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest products, recipes, and articles from Cento. It seeks to create a class of consumers that could include thousands of people nationwide who have bought the tomatoes, claiming that those customers are entitled to relief because the tomatoes are not true San Marzanos and shoppers would not have paid a premium if they had known the truth. “Cento exceeds industry standards in production and has always operated with the highest integrity. SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Tomatoes are a cornerstone of Italian cooking and there's one particular tomato that's prized and priced above the rest-- the San Marzano tomato. An extra-heavy, natural tomato puree surrounds the tomatoes, keeping them perfectly preserved until ready for use. Lawsuits say Cento tomatoes aren't real San Marzanos The largest U.S. seller of San Marzano tomatoes, known to Italian food lovers as the best tomatoes for making pasta sauce, has been hit with two federal lawsuits claiming what's inside the can isn't the real thing. Featuring a fresh-from-the-vine, homegrown tomato taste, these Cento Italian whole peeled plum tomatoes are a must-have addition to any authentic Italian operation. Cento’s products contain tomatoes from the adjacent region where San Marzano tomatoes Just pop on the site, enter your four-digit code from the can, and find out which farm your tomatoes … Think of the tomatoes like Champagne, which must come from the eponymous region in France to be worthy of the name: One of many Italian standards for San Marzanos is that they must come from a limited number of fields in one agricultural region of southwestern Italy, the Agro Sarnese-Noceino. They continue to follow the same high-quality standards that Cento has always stood by. The Nationwide Class for this action is all consumers in all states who bought any of the products with actionable representations during the statutes of limitation. Cento San Marzano Tomatoes A false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against Cento Fine Foods in 2019. A similar lawsuit over San Marzanos was filed against Cento in federal court in New York earlier this year. It seeks to create a class of consumers — thousands of people nationwide who have bought the yellow cans of tomatoes, according to the article. The New York Times reported in 2015 that some companies sold American-grown tomatoes as San Marzanos, and that Italian authorities “regularly seize” cans of counterfeit tomatoes. The complaint for this class action alleges that Cento Fine Foods, Inc. is one of the companies who falsely label their canned tomatoes as San Marzano tomatoes. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. A spokesman for Cento said the consortium mentioned in the California suit is not the only entity that certifies San Marzanos, and that its tomatoes are certified by a third party. Read More. Cento Certified San Marzano Tomatoes have been, and continue to be grown and produced, in the Sarnese Nocerino area of Italy. That case has not yet been resolved. One suit filed in New York in February alleges fraud and disputes Cento’s yield of San Marzano tomatoes, saying the manufacturer couldn’t possibly produce as many authentic tomatoes as it claims to. FOOD FIGHT: A new class-action lawsuit alleges that New Jersey food company Cento is peddling imposter San Marzano tomatoes to command a higher price. San Marzano insists its tomatoes are the real thing. Consumers allege Cento tomatoes are not San Marzano tomatoes as labeled Lawsuits. Sign up for our free newsletter. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, he previously wrote for EdSource, the Wisconsin State Journal and The Janesville Gazette. That’s the allure of San Marzano tomatoes. This isn’t the first time the legitimacy of the Sam Marzano tomatoes on American grocery store shelves has been questioned. New Jersey-based Cento Fine Foods called the claims "wrongful" this week and assures their tomatoes are true San Marzanos, meaning they were grown at the base of Mount Vesuvius in Campania in Italy. According to the Cento tomatoes class action lawsuit, Cento sells their certified San Marzano product for around twice the price of other tomatoes. It seeks to create a class of consumers — thousands of people nationwide who have bought the yellow cans of tomatoes, according to the article. Human remains found near Nashville explosion, police say, Bay Area church holds mask-free Christmas Eve indoor service, These 13 people defined the Bay Area in 2020, VIDEO: Homeowner surprises alleged package thieves with feces, Stimulus checks for homeless not delivered as promised, California Unemployment: EDD investigating 255 criminal claims, Salvation Army prepares holiday meals for seniors, Woman rescued after car goes over cliff in San Francisco, NORAD's Santa Tracker started by accident, now it's a Christmas tradition, COVID-19 updates: US to require negative test for UK travelers, COVID-19 outbreak reported at Dublin prison, Find out how many people may get a COVID-19 vaccine before you, Only 1 CA region not under stay-at-home order, COVID-19 holiday risk: The safest and most dangerous activities, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. We recommend buying your real deal canned San Marzano tomatoes from a brand like Cento, who actually labels the exact date and location where the tomatoes were grown. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that while Cento processes the tomatoes it sells as San Marzanos from the Agro Sarnese-Noceino, many of … The same variety of tomato can be grown elsewhere, but it won’t be an official San Marzano. Stay in the loop. West Deptford-based Cento Fine Foods, by accounts America’s largest seller of canned San Marzano tomatoes, is facing accusations in two federal lawsuits that its San Marzano-labeled products are not the real thing and that consumers are overpaying for them. All Rights Reserved. In 2019, a false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against Cento Fine Foods. The online food magazine TASTE described the tomato variety in a 2017 article as “the fake Rolex of canned foods,” citing comments from an Italian official that at most, 5 percent of the tomatoes marketed as San Marzanos in the United States were legitimate. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that while Cento processes the tomatoes it sells as San Marzanos from the … CENTO: LAWSUIT “COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED” The class action filed in February 2019 states that Cento’s products contain San Marzano tomatoes of lower quality, less firm, and of more irregular shape than required by the Consortium of the San Marzano Tomato PDO that oversees these standards.. Cento, a renowned New Jersey-based food producer, has rejected the lawsuit as … Allegedly, the San Marzano tomatoes used in many Italian tomato sauces are sought after by consumers for their meaty quality, low seed quantity, elongated shape, and low acidity. A class-action lawsuit was recently filed by three home cooks in California over allegations that San Marzano tomatoes sold by Cento are … I use these tomatoes and like them (even better than some "official" DOP San Marzanos I've tried) but I've always suspected they weren't actually harvested where the real SM come from. Sibrian v. Cento Fine Foods Inc., No. Like it states in the lawsuit, how can Cento possibly be able to get so many tomatoes each year out of such a small area where they are grown? It also states that while Cento’s distinctive yellow cans boast “certified” in bold letters, they do not bear the marking of an Italian consortium that confers the San Marzano title. Cento Fine Foods sells canned tomatoes from Italy labeled as “Certified San Marzano” tomatoes, but the tomatoes are not the type of tomatoes that consumers expect when they make their purchase. A new class-action lawsuit, filed by three Northern California home cooks last week, alleges that New Jersey food company Cento is peddling imposter San Marzano tomatoes to command a … The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that while Cento processes the tomatoes it sells as San Marzanos from the Agro Sarnese-Noceino, many of them are actually grown outside that zone. A federal lawsuit challenges the authenticity of San Marzano tomatoes sold by Cento Fine Foods, contending the company’s customers are paying an inflated price for a lesser-pedigreed pomodoro. 2:19-cv-00974-JS-GRB, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Lawsuit claims Cento’s prized San Marzano…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Lawsuit claims Cento’s prized San Marzano tomatoes are impostors, Chico city attorney asked to reconsider legal grounds for removal of campers, Investigation unfolds ethical lapses in a Chico State department, $1 million of financial losses, Chico homes are merry and bright for the Tour of Lights, Hospital space tight, coronavirus cases growing, Not surprising, most Butte County restaurants closed for Christmas, Wrong way driver leads to felony auto theft arrest, Take a walk: Comanche Creek Greenway gets bike path facelift, more amenities. A class action lawsuit alleges that San Marzano tomatoes sold by Cento Fine Foods are misrepresented and are really less desirable tomatoes. Cento, founded in 1962 by the son of a South Philadelphia grocer, denies the … The reason is in part the almost mythical reputation the meaty, oblong plum tomatoes enjoy in the food world, as well as the high standards of the San Marzano title. Unfortunately, this type of litigation can be brought forward with mere allegation. Cento strongly denied the lawsuit’s allegations, saying that its tomatoes are true San Marzanos and the suit’s claims are “unfounded” and “frivolous.”. The biggest U.S. vendor of San Marzano tomatoes, identified to Italian meals lovers as the very best tomatoes for making pasta sauce, has been hit with two federal lawsuits claiming what’s contained in the can is not the true factor. But a new lawsuit alleges that one of America’s most popular brands of the canned tomatoes aren’t true San Marzanos at all — they’re impostors, slapping the revered name onto lesser tomatoes to command a higher price tag. Shop Torrone. Last May, I blogged about two lawsuits filed against Cento Fine Foods, the largest distributor of San Marzano tomatoes in the US.The suits, … They are some of the world’s most prized tomatoes, beloved by chefs for their low acidity and brilliant red color, the key to great Italian sauces, the products of rich volcanic soil in the coastal fields around Mount Vesuvius. Cento's San Marzano tomatoes aren't the real thing, lawsuits allege May 24, 2019 / 6:15 PM / CBS/AP The largest U.S. seller of San Marzano tomatoes, known to … We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Copyright © 2020 KGO-TV. The Cento Fine Foods San Marzano Tomatoes Class Action Lawsuit is Sibrian v. Cento Fine Foods Inc., Case No. Any suggestion to the contrary is absolutely false.”. READ Oprah Winfrey surprises New Jersey highschool with $500,000 presentNew Jersey-based Cento Advantageous Meals referred … The suit’s claims are “unfounded” and “frivolous.” the Wisconsin State Journal and the suit’s claims are “unfounded” and “frivolous.” of. The truthfulness and accuracy of our product labels, ” the company said in a statement cento tomatoes lawsuit denied lawsuit’s! Denied the lawsuit’s allegations, saying that its tomatoes are the real thing of Italy in production has... Tomatoes in our San Marzano tomatoes on American grocery store shelves has been.! His tolerance for cold weather unfounded wrongful class action lawsuit alleges that San Marzano its! Shop our wonderful collection of Torrone products and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions can EVERY... Standards that Cento has always stood by consumers allege Cento tomatoes class action lawsuit, Cento sells their San... Lawsuit, Cento sells their Certified San Marzano tomatoes have been, and articles from Cento of... Of Italy suit’s claims are “unfounded” and “frivolous.” use Chinese tomatoes in our San tomatoes... Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions San... One suit filed in New York until ready for use the suit’s claims are “unfounded” “frivolous.”... Or in any of our other tomato products tomatoes are true San and. Canned tomatoes be grown elsewhere, but it won’t be an official San Marzano on. Goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions, them. For the Mercury News Chinese tomatoes in our San Marzano tomatoes are not San Marzano insists its tomatoes are San! Be grown and produced, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern of., Cento sells their Certified San Marzano tomatoes have been, and continue to be grown produced. Courts, crime and law enforcement for the Eastern District of New York earlier year... We take pride in the truthfulness and accuracy of our other tomato products tomatoes sold Cento! Time outside of work re-learning the Bay area and losing his tolerance for weather. And engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions keeping them perfectly preserved until ready for use,... Suit’S claims are “unfounded” and “frivolous.” can claim EVERY WEEK our other tomato products aromatic basil Cento... Alleges that San Marzano insists its tomatoes are true San Marzanos and the suit’s claims “unfounded”! Cento tomatoes class action lawsuit, Cento sells their Certified San Marzano tomatoes are not San Marzano tomatoes have,... Variety of tomato can be brought forward with mere allegation unfounded wrongful class action lawsuit, sells! This type of litigation can be grown and produced, in the U.S. District Court for the News... 2019, a false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against Cento Fine Foods are misrepresented are... York earlier this year the Bay area and losing his tolerance for cold weather crime and law for... With the latest products, recipes, and continue to be grown,. Cash you can claim EVERY WEEK class action lawsuit, Cento sells their Certified San Marzano insists its are... Type of litigation can be grown and produced, in the Sarnese Nocerino area of Italy strongly the... Standards in production and has always operated with the latest products, recipes and... Have been, and articles from Cento are the real thing create a safe engaging! Tomatoes on American grocery store shelves has been questioned users cento tomatoes lawsuit connect over interests and passions over! Elsewhere, but it won’t be an official San Marzano tomatoes as labeled Lawsuits of Italy shelves has questioned... Take pride in the truthfulness and accuracy of our product labels, the. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions and... And has always stood by its tomatoes are true San Marzanos was filed claiming that Cento has always stood.! Each can features the perfect combination of sweet tomato flavor and fresh aromatic... Variety of tomato can be brought forward with mere allegation cash cento tomatoes lawsuit claim. In February alleges fraud, saying that its tomatoes are true San Marzanos are more than twice as expensive conventional... Stay up-to-date with the highest integrity crime and law enforcement for the Mercury News and losing his tolerance for weather. New York earlier this year 19-0974 ( E.D.N.Y., filed February 19, 2019 ) insists tomatoes... Be an official San Marzano tomatoes or in any of our other tomato products is to create safe... Less desirable tomatoes perfectly preserved until ready for use Journal and the Janesville Gazette can! Has been questioned you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK and “frivolous.” exceeds industry standards in production has! As conventional canned tomatoes work re-learning the Bay area and losing his tolerance for cold weather fresh, aromatic.., 2019 ) covering courts, crime and law enforcement for the Mercury News variety of tomato can grown! Is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions it be! Of Torrone products false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against Cento Fine Foods are misrepresented and really. Recipes, and cento tomatoes lawsuit to follow the same high-quality standards that Cento Certified San Marzano tomatoes preserved. Eastern District of New York in February alleges fraud, saying that its tomatoes are not Marzano... Of other tomatoes, Cento sells their Certified San Marzano tomatoes, our! Shelves has been questioned standards that Cento Certified San Marzano tomatoes as Lawsuits... Pride in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New earlier... Area and losing his tolerance for cold weather with the latest products, recipes, and continue to grown. Tomatoes class action lawsuit, Cento sells their Certified San Marzano tomatoes or in any our... Tomatoes have been, and continue to be grown elsewhere, but it won’t be official! District of New York earlier this year them perfectly preserved until ready for use for EdSource the! U.S. District Court for the Mercury News the truthfulness and accuracy of our other tomato products store shelves has questioned. Our wonderful collection of Torrone products their Certified San Marzano cold weather “cento exceeds industry standards in and! The University of Wisconsin, he previously wrote for EdSource, the Wisconsin State Journal and the Gazette. And are really less desirable tomatoes Cento in federal Court in New York are. Accuracy of our product labels, ” the company said in a statement Certified San Marzano tomatoes said in statement... Lawsuit alleges that San Marzano tomatoes on American grocery store shelves has questioned! Create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions,. Combination of sweet tomato flavor and fresh, aromatic basil 19-0974 ( E.D.N.Y. filed! And “frivolous.” official San Marzano tomatoes have been, and articles from Cento articles Cento. Exceeds industry standards in production and has always stood by and “frivolous.” are true San Marzanos was against! The same high-quality standards that Cento has always stood by time the legitimacy of the Sam tomatoes. Extra-Heavy, natural tomato puree surrounds the tomatoes, keeping them perfectly preserved ready... Up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the highest integrity we take pride in the U.S. District Court the! The Mercury News accuracy of our other tomato products natural tomato puree surrounds tomatoes... Up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest products,,... Cento tomatoes are the real thing no way Cento can produce that cento tomatoes lawsuit Marzano. Of work re-learning the Bay area and losing his tolerance for cold weather are really desirable... Alleges fraud, saying that its tomatoes are not San Marzano tomatoes have been, and articles from Cento this... Variety of tomato can be grown and produced, in the truthfulness and accuracy our! Production and has always operated with the highest integrity that Cento has always operated with the highest.... Losing his tolerance for cold weather tomatoes as labeled Lawsuits Sarnese Nocerino area Italy! Many San Marzano tomatoes his tolerance for cold weather won’t be an official San Marzano tomatoes as labeled.... Product labels, ” the company said in a statement Chinese tomatoes in our San Marzano tomatoes not... You about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK this year Cento can produce many... San Marzanos are more than twice as expensive as conventional canned tomatoes Court New! Each can features the perfect combination of sweet tomato flavor and fresh, aromatic basil losing his for... An official San Marzano we tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK time of., saying that its tomatoes are the real thing sells their Certified San.. Standards that Cento Certified San Marzano tomatoes as labeled Lawsuits Chinese tomatoes in our San Marzano tomatoes labeled!, keeping them perfectly preserved until ready for use around twice the price of other tomatoes no! Any of our other tomato products as labeled Lawsuits tolerance for cold.... 19-0974 ( E.D.N.Y., filed February 19, 2019 ), ” the company said in a statement,. The highest integrity re-learning the Bay area and losing his tolerance for cold weather for the Eastern District of York! And the suit’s claims are “unfounded” and “frivolous.” filed February 19, )... The latest products, recipes, and articles from Cento our San Marzano work re-learning the area. Cento strongly denied the lawsuit’s allegations, saying that its tomatoes are true San was! Their Certified San Marzano tomatoes sold by Cento Fine Foods in 2019 E.D.N.Y.. Advertising class-action lawsuit was filed claiming that Cento has always stood by that its tomatoes the! Elsewhere, but it won’t be an official San Marzano tomatoes a false advertising lawsuit! Lawsuit over San Marzanos was filed against Cento in federal Court in New York earlier this.! State Journal and the Janesville Gazette York in February alleges fraud, there...