WHERE DO “ITALIAN” TOMATOES REALLY COME FROM?

Tomatoes are the most commonly consumed produce in the world. Global production of tomatoes amounts to close to 200 million tons every year, and the largest producers are China, India, and the United States. While tomatoes aren’t a traditional ingredient in Chinese cuisine, the average American consumes around 20 pounds of fresh tomatoes per year, and more than 210 million Americans also used canned tomatoes in 2020. When gazing at a shelf filled with various brands of tomato paste and canned tomatoes, we might envision some idyllic agrarian locale in Italy where sun-ripened tomatoes are picked by hand before they’re processed. But a lot of the tomato products sold in the U.S. actually come from China, which is responsible for about one-third of world production. But investigative journalists have discovered that the Italian mafia has been involved in importing cheap Chinese tomato products into Italy, where they have been processed just enough to meet EU requirements for the label “made in Italy” to be attached. In response, the Italian government has introduced new regulations that require manufacturers to state the origin of raw materials in processed food products. In the case of tomatoes, the label must state the country where the tomatoes were grown and processed, and if it was Italy, the specified wording is “origin of tomato: Italy.” If adhered to, the regulations could help ensure more clarity at the market.