Cento Fine Foods “Tomato Fraud” Lawsuit, Did You Buy Cento San Marzano Tomatoes? Andrich et al. v. Cento Fine Foods, Inc., U.S. District Court, N.D. California (Filed May 4, 2026)

Cento Fine Foods is facing a class action lawsuit — filed May 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California — accusing the New Jersey-based Italian food company of deceiving consumers by labeling its canned tomatoes as “Certified San Marzano” when they allegedly do not meet the authentic Italian certification standard that shoppers believe they are paying a premium for.

The lawsuit was filed by two California residents and claims the company is illegally and falsely branding its tomato products as containing certified San Marzano tomatoes. If you bought Cento’s San Marzano canned tomatoes believing the “certified” label meant official Italian DOP certification, this case may directly affect you.

Cento Fine Foods San Marzano Tomato Fraud Lawsuit — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	May 4, 2026
Defendant	Cento Fine Foods, Inc.
Plaintiffs	Mike Andrich and Natalie Gianne
Alleged Harm	False and misleading “Certified San Marzano” labeling on canned tomato products
Specific Law Alleged	California consumer protection and false advertising statutes (federal court, N.D. California)
Products at Issue	Cento San Marzano Certified Peeled Tomatoes; Cento San Marzano Organic Certified Peeled Tomatoes
Who Is Affected	Consumers who purchased Cento San Marzano tomato products believing they carried official Italian DOP certification
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Northern District of California — case number TBD, pending PACER confirmation
Current Court Stage	Early litigation — complaint filed, no class certified
Lead Plaintiff Deadline	TBD — not yet set by court
Settlement Status	No settlement — active lawsuit only
Damages Sought	$25 million for class members; $10,000 incentive award per plaintiff
Cento’s Response	Called allegations “entirely without merit”; intends to seek dismissal
Last Updated	May 28, 2026

Who Is Cento Fine Foods and Why Are They Facing a San Marzano Tomato Lawsuit?

Cento Fine Foods is based in New Jersey and is a major Italian food distributor whose canned tomatoes are sold widely across the United States. The company markets its San Marzano tomato products as “Certified San Marzano” and promotes them as premium imports from Italy’s Campania region. That “certified” claim is exactly what this lawsuit challenges — and it is not the first time Cento has faced it in federal court.

What Cento Allegedly Did to Consumers Who Bought Its San Marzano Tomatoes

San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomato traditionally grown in the Campania region of southern Italy, protected under a designation known as DOP — short for “Denominazione d’Origine Protetta,” or protected designation of origin. Think of it the same way Champagne can only legally come from one region of France, or Parmigiano Reggiano must come from specific provinces in Italy.

An independent Italian consortium, Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, promotes and regulates the sale of San Marzano tomatoes, which must meet strict production and quality standards. Only tomatoes certified by that consortium — or meeting its standards — can legitimately carry the DOP designation consumers recognize.

On the tomato cans and on its website, Cento says its San Marzano tomatoes are certified by an independent third-party agency called Agri-Cert. The lawsuit alleges Cento’s labeling suggests the product has an official DOP designation, a label granted to San Marzano tomatoes by the Italian consortium.

The complaint calls Cento “the primary culprit of this tomato fraud in the United States.” The lawsuit alleges Cento’s use of the word “certified” falsely suggests the products are officially recognized San Marzano tomatoes. Shoppers who reach for a can at a premium price point, the complaint argues, are not getting what the label implies.

ABC News and Fox Business both reported on the case in May 2026, giving it national consumer attention that makes this article particularly relevant to anyone who regularly cooks with Italian canned tomatoes.

For a broader look at how U.S. courts handle false food labeling cases, see how similar consumer protection allegations played out in the Kraft Heinz false advertising and food labeling class action lawsuits, which involved comparable claims about misleading ingredient representations on widely sold products.

Related article: Target “Yogurt Covered” Snacks False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit, Did You Buy Favorite Day or Good & Gather Yogurt Products? Sierra v. Target Corporation, No. 2:26-cv-02799

Why Cento’s History With the Italian Consortium Makes This Case More Complicated

This is not the first time questions have been raised about Cento and San Marzano certification. Although Cento was once a member of the consortium, the company was removed in 2011 after Italian authorities found that an associated manager, Giuseppe Napoletano, had been fraudulently labeling uncertified tomatoes as San Marzano. An investigation found that 144,000 cans bearing Cento’s brand label were falsely labeled as San Marzano DOP tomatoes. Napoletano and his father were found guilty by an Italian court in 2019.

Cento has said it voluntarily stopped seeking certification from the consortium in the 2010s due to labeling requirements. The lawsuit, however, alleges the removal was linked to the investigation into counterfeit DOP labeling.

A similar federal lawsuit filed in New York in 2019 accused the company of selling allegedly inauthentic San Marzano tomatoes. That case was dismissed in 2020 after a federal judge concluded that a reasonable consumer was unlikely to distinguish between tomatoes certified by the official Italian consortium and those certified by another certifier using similar standards. Cento’s legal team has already pointed to that outcome in its response to the current California lawsuit.

If you regularly buy Cento San Marzano tomatoes — or did so in recent years thinking “certified” meant official Italian DOP status — this case may directly affect you.

Are You Part of the Cento San Marzano False Labeling Class Action?

Here is exactly how to tell whether this lawsuit includes you.

You may be covered if:

• You purchased Cento San Marzano Certified Peeled Tomatoes or Cento San Marzano Organic Certified Peeled Tomatoes
• You bought the product believing the “Certified San Marzano” label indicated official DOP certification from the Italian consortium
• You paid a premium price for the product based on that belief and would not have purchased it — or would have paid less — had you known the certification came from a different body than the Italian DOP consortium
• Plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop Cento from labeling their tomatoes as “certified San Marzano,” as well as $25 million for class action members

You likely do NOT qualify if:

• You purchased Cento products other than the San Marzano Certified Peeled Tomatoes or Organic Certified Peeled Tomatoes
• You were aware that Cento’s certification came from Agri-Cert rather than the Italian DOP consortium and bought the product anyway
• You have no connection to the purchase of these specific canned tomato products

Do Consumers Outside California Still Fall Under This Case?

This is a federal class action filed in the Northern District of California. Federal court class actions can include consumers from across the country if the court certifies a nationwide class. No class has been certified yet, so the exact geographic scope will be determined by the court. Consumers outside California who bought these products should monitor the case — you may be covered depending on how the class is ultimately defined.

If you are unsure whether your purchases qualify for the Cento San Marzano tomato fraud lawsuit, a free consultation with a consumer fraud attorney can help you assess your situation before any deadline is set.

What Are the Cento Plaintiffs Asking the Court to Award in the 2026 San Marzano Case?

No money is available yet. No claim form exists. This is what the lawsuit seeks so you understand what could come next.

The lawsuit seeks at least $25 million in restitution and changes to Cento’s business practices. The two individual plaintiffs are each seeking a $10,000 incentive award in addition to whatever the class recovers. The complaint also asks the court to order Cento to stop using “certified San Marzano” labeling on products that do not hold official DOP certification from the Italian consortium.

What Could Consumers Who Bought Cento San Marzano Tomatoes Receive If the Case Settles?

There is no settlement and no timeline for one. Cento has stated its intention to seek dismissal, citing its 2020 New York victory on similar claims. If the case survives and eventually settles, individual payouts would depend on how many people are in the class, the number of purchases at issue, and how the parties negotiate. It is impossible to predict an individual amount at this stage. A consumer fraud attorney is the most reliable resource for understanding what your situation could be worth.

Cento San Marzano Tomato Fraud Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Cento removed from Italian DOP consortium	2011
144,000 Cento cans found falsely labeled — Italian investigation	2010–2011
Italian court finds consortium-linked manager guilty of fraud	2019
First Cento San Marzano class action filed (New York)	2019
New York lawsuit dismissed by federal judge	2020
Andrich et al. v. Cento Fine Foods filed (N.D. California)	May 4, 2026
Cento responds — calls allegations “entirely without merit”	May 2026
Class certification hearing	TBD — not yet scheduled
Expected resolution	TBD — case in earliest stage

What Should Consumers Who Bought Cento San Marzano Tomatoes Do Right Now?

Most people in a class action are included automatically once a class is certified — you do not need to rush to file anything today. Here is what actually matters now:

1. Hold onto your receipts or purchase records. If you bought Cento San Marzano tomatoes through a grocery store loyalty program, online delivery service, or paid by card, you may have a purchase history. Save it.
2. Keep any cans you still have. The label itself — specifically the “Certified San Marzano” wording and Agri-Cert reference — is central to this lawsuit. Don’t discard any product packaging.
3. Note when and where you bought the product. Store name, approximate date, and price paid are all useful if you are ever asked to verify your purchase as a class member.
4. Monitor the court docket. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on May 4, 2026. You can track it through CourtListener.com by searching for Cento Fine Foods.
5. Watch for a lead plaintiff deadline. No deadline has been announced. If you are a frequent Cento buyer with documented purchase history and strong feelings about the labeling, speak with a consumer fraud attorney about whether a more active role in the case makes sense for you.
6. Decide whether to wait. Given that Cento successfully had a similar New York case dismissed in 2020, this California case faces a real legal challenge. Whether to monitor and wait, or to consult an attorney now, depends on how much you spent and how important the certification claim was to your purchase decision.

Cento San Marzano Tomato Fraud Lawsuit — Frequently Asked Questions, N.D. California (Filed May 4, 2026)

Is there a class action lawsuit against Cento Fine Foods for falsely labeling San Marzano tomatoes right now?

 Yes. A proposed class action was filed May 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by California residents Mike Andrich and Natalie Gianne. The suit accuses Cento of misleading consumers with “Certified San Marzano” labeling that allegedly does not reflect official Italian DOP certification.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included in the Cento San Marzano class action?

 No immediate action is required. If the court certifies a class, eligible consumers who purchased the specified products would typically be included automatically. The most useful step right now is saving any purchase records and product packaging.

When will the Cento San Marzano tomato fraud case settle?

 There is no settlement and no timeline. Cento has said it will seek prompt dismissal, citing its successful defense of a similar New York lawsuit in 2020. Resolution — whether by dismissal, settlement, or trial — could take years.

Can I file my own lawsuit against Cento for the San Marzano labeling instead of joining the class?

 Potentially, yes, depending on your state’s consumer protection laws and the damages you suffered. Whether an individual claim makes more sense than waiting for a class resolution depends on your specific situation. A consumer fraud attorney can advise you.

How will I find out if the Cento lawsuit settles? 

You can track the case on CourtListener.com by searching Cento Fine Foods, Northern District of California. AllAboutLawyer.com will also update this article when any significant development occurs.

What specific law does Cento allegedly violate in this case?

 The complaint was filed in California federal court under California consumer protection and false advertising statutes. The core allegation is that the “Certified San Marzano” label misleads a reasonable consumer into believing the product holds official Italian DOP certification from Il Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano DOP, when in fact it does not.

Has Cento faced this kind of lawsuit before?

 Yes. A nearly identical class action was filed in New York federal court in 2019 and dismissed in 2020 after the court found a reasonable consumer would not necessarily confuse Cento’s Agri-Cert certification with official DOP certification. The plaintiffs in the current California case are making a similar argument but in a different jurisdiction.

How much could consumers who bought Cento San Marzano tomatoes receive if the 2026 case settles?

 No money is available yet and no claim form exists. The lawsuit seeks $25 million for the class as a whole. Individual amounts would depend on the number of class members, total purchases at issue, and any settlement negotiated. A consumer fraud attorney is the best resource for understanding what your purchases could be worth.

Sources Used in This Cento Fine Foods San Marzano Tomato Fraud Article

• ABC News / Good Morning America — “Popular Italian food brand accused of ‘tomato fraud’ in new lawsuit company says is meritless” (May 2026): https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/popular-italian-food-brand-accused-tomato-fraud-new/story?id=132678999

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against court reporting and verified news sources including ABC News, CBS News, and Fox Business on May 28, 2026. Last Updated: May 28, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about your specific situation.