Campbell Soup Company is confronting a major corporate crisis after explosive allegations emerged that one of its vice presidents was secretly recorded making derogatory comments about both the company's products and its customer base.
The Lawsuit and Leaked Recording
Robert Garza, a former employee from Michigan, filed a lawsuit against Campbell's on Thursday and provided Detroit's Local 4 news with audio allegedly featuring Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally. The broadcast included portions of the recording that have since sparked widespread outrage.
In the leaked audio, a speaker identified as Bally is heard making shocking statements about Campbell's products. "We have s**t for f***king poor people. Who buys our s**t? I don't buy Campbell's products barely anymore. It's not healthy now that I know what the f**'s in it," the speaker says.
The recording also contains concerning remarks about bioengineered food technology. "I don't wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer," the speaker comments, raising questions about the company's ingredients despite Campbell's previous disclosures about genetically modified components.
Company Response and Immediate Fallout
Campbell Soup Company swiftly responded to the allegations through a spokesperson who told Daily Mail: "We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use. The comments on the recording are not only inaccurate—they are patently absurd."
The company emphasised that Bally works in information technology and has no involvement in food production processes. However, they acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating: "If the recording is legitimate, the comments are unacceptable. They do not reflect our values and the culture of our company."
Campbell's confirmed that Martin Bally has been temporarily placed on leave pending an internal investigation. Bally has been employed at Campbell's since January 2022.
Racist Comments and Retaliation Claims
According to court documents seen by Daily Mail, the controversy extends beyond product criticism. Garza, who began working remotely for Campbell's in September 2024, claimed he met Bally at a restaurant around November 2024 to discuss his salary.
Instead, Garza alleges, Bally launched into an hour-long rant that included racist comments about Campbell's Indian staff members. The recording, which lasted over an hour and 15 minutes, allegedly captures the speaker saying: "F---ing Indians don't know a f---ing thing. Like they couldn't think for their f---ing selves."
Garza reported these comments to his supervisor in January 2025, but claims he was abruptly terminated on January 30, 2025. The lawsuit alleges this was direct retaliation for speaking out against Bally's conduct.
"He reached out to his supervisor and told the supervisor what Martin was saying, and then out of nowhere, my client was fired," Garza's attorney, Runyan, told Local News 4. The lawsuit accuses Campbell's of fostering a racially toxic workplace environment.
Legal and Regulatory Consequences
The scandal has attracted attention at the highest levels of government. Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on X that the state is launching an investigation into Campbell's, referencing Florida's ban on lab-grown meat.
"Florida law bans lab-grown meat. Our Consumer Protection division is launching an investigation and will demand answers from Campbell's," Uthmeier posted.
While Campbell's has previously disclosed that its canola, corn, soybean and sugar beet are grown from genetically modified seeds, the company has not revealed whether meat in its soups comes from lab-grown animal cells. Bioengineered foods are permitted for sale in the US but require appropriate labelling.
The lawsuit seeks damages for Garza's alleged suffering, including stress, humiliation, emotional harm, and economic losses. Campbell's corporate culture and treatment of employees now face intense scrutiny as multiple investigations unfold.
