Cento class action claims company sells falsely certified San Marzano tomatoes

Cento class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiffs Mike Andrich and Natalie Gianne filed a class action lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods Inc.
• Why: Andrich and Gianne claim Cento falsely advertises its San Marzano tomato products as being certified by the European Union.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit accuses Cento, a premium Italian specialty food importer and distributor, of falsely advertising its San Marzano tomato products as being certified by the European Union.

Plaintiffs Mike Andrich and Natalie Gianne claim Cento’s San Marzano tomato products lack the taste, consistency and other physical characteristics associated with the tomatoes.

They argue only the Italian consortium authorized by the EU — the Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino — can officially certify authentic San Marzano tomatoes and that Cento allegedly uses a different certifier, Agri-Cert.

“Defendant’s marketing and labeling of Cento San Marzanos as ‘Certified San Marzano’ tomatoes is false, misleading, and unfair,” the Cento class action lawsuit says.

Andrich and Gianne further argue Cento was ejected from the European Union’s San Marzano Consortium in 2011 for allegedly committing fraud.

The plaintiffs want to represent a nationwide class of consumers who have purchased Cento San Marzano tomatoes since January 2016.

Cento San Marzano tomatoes lack authenticity, class action says

Andrich and Gianne claim Cento sells its San Marzano tomato products at a price premium over regular canned tomatoes and similar to actual certified San Marzano tomatoes.

Furthermore, Andrich and Gianne argue they purchased the tomato products in reliance on the company’s allegedly deceptive labeling, believing they were authentic and certified.

“Plaintiffs would never have purchased Cento San Marzanos, especially at their premium price, if they had known that they were inauthentic, and indeed illegal in Italy, home of San Marzano tomatoes,” the Cento class action says.

The plaintiffs request declaratory and injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement and an award of punitive damages for themselves and all class members.

A consumer filed a similar class action lawsuit against Cento in 2019 over claims the company sold San Marzano tomatoes that were misrepresented. A judge would later grant Cento’s motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit in August 2020. 

Have you purchased Cento San Marzano tomatoes since January 2016? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Gregory S. Weston of The Weston Firm.

The Cento class action lawsuit is Andrich, et al. v. Cento Fine Foods Inc., Case No. 3:26-cv-04012, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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