Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Cento falsely markets its canned tomatoes as EU-certified San Marzano tomatoes when they allegedly do not meet the strict standards required for that designation.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who purchased Cento-branded San Marzano tomato products

Court: Not yet confirmed

Cento Lawsuit Alleges "San Marzano" Tomato Label Is False Advertising

A class action lawsuit alleges that Cento, a well-known importer and distributor of Italian specialty foods, has been misleading consumers by selling canned tomatoes labeled as certified San Marzano tomatoes that allegedly do not meet the rigorous European Union standards required to carry that designation.

According to a recent report from Top Class Actions, the lawsuit claims Cento's products are marketed as bearing EU certification for the San Marzano designation—a premium label that commands significantly higher prices at retail—despite allegedly failing to qualify for that certification.

What Makes a Tomato "San Marzano"

San Marzano tomatoes are not simply a variety—they carry a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification under European Union law. To earn the designation, tomatoes must be grown in a specific volcanic soil region near Mount Vesuvius in Campania, Italy, harvested by hand, and processed under strict guidelines overseen by an official certification body.

Because of these requirements, authentic San Marzano tomatoes are considered among the finest canned tomatoes available and typically sell at a substantial premium over conventional alternatives. The lawsuit alleges that consumers are paying for a certification that Cento's products do not legitimately hold.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The complaint alleges that Cento misrepresents its canned tomato products as being certified under the EU's San Marzano PDO standards when, according to the filing, they do not satisfy the requirements for that certification. The lawsuit claims this constitutes false advertising and deceptive marketing to consumers who rely on the certification label when making purchasing decisions.

The plaintiff argues that consumers pay a meaningful price premium for products bearing the San Marzano certification, and that absent the certification claim, buyers would have paid less for the product—or chosen a different one entirely. Had they known the products were allegedly not properly certified, the complaint suggests, they would not have purchased them at the price charged.

A Premium Product With a Premium Price Tag

Cento is one of the most prominent brands in the Italian specialty food import market and is widely stocked in major grocery chains across the United States. Its San Marzano tomato products are a staple for home cooks and professional chefs alike, who specifically seek out the certification as a mark of quality and authenticity.

The lawsuit alleges that Cento's labeling and marketing capitalize on consumer trust in the San Marzano designation, allowing the company to charge prices above what non-certified tomatoes would command. The complaint frames this as an economic harm—consumers paid more than they would have for a product that allegedly did not deliver the certified quality it promised.

Broader Pattern of San Marzano Certification Disputes

Disputes over San Marzano tomato authenticity are not new to the U.S. market. Food industry observers and culinary publications have raised questions for years about whether the volume of "San Marzano" tomatoes sold in the United States could realistically originate from the small protected growing region in southern Italy.

This lawsuit adds a legal dimension to those longstanding concerns, and could be significant for consumers who have relied on the certification label as a reliable indicator of product origin and quality.

Defendant's Response

A response from Cento to the allegations had not been publicly reported at the time of publication. Defendants in class action lawsuits typically deny the allegations made against them.

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Lawsuit: To be updated upon confirmation of full case caption

Case Number: To be confirmed

Court: To be confirmed

Plaintiffs' Attorney(s): To be confirmed

Have you purchased Cento San Marzano tomatoes? Share your experience in the comments below.

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