A Campbell Soup VP is on leave after secret recording appears to show him mocking ‘poor’ customers, ‘3D-printed chicken’
In a recent controversy, Campbell Soup Company has found itself under scrutiny after an executive was placed on leave following allegations of disparaging remarks about the company and its products. Martin Bally, the company’s vice president of information technology, reportedly made a series of inappropriate comments during a meeting that was recorded by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst at Campbell. The lawsuit filed by Garza claims he was terminated for raising concerns about Bally’s behavior, which included mocking the intelligence of his Indian colleagues and labeling Campbell’s products as catering to “poor people.” The audio recording, which has not been independently verified, features Bally expressing disdain for the company’s offerings, stating, “If you look at our fucking pantry — we have shit for fucking poor people, right?” He also made alarming claims about the company’s food, suggesting that their chicken could be “bioengineered” or even “from a 3D printer.”
In response to these allegations, Campbell Soup Company has firmly denied the claims about 3D-printed chicken, asserting that their meat comes from “long-trusted, USDA approved U.S. suppliers.” The company emphasized that Bally’s comments do not reflect its values or corporate culture, and they are taking the matter seriously. The fallout from the audio recording has not only sparked public outrage but has also drawn the attention of legal authorities, including Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who announced an investigation into the claims, particularly regarding the legality of lab-grown meat in Florida. As a result of this controversy, Campbell’s stock experienced a slight decline, closing at $30.42 per share, illustrating the potential financial repercussions of the incident.
This incident highlights the broader issues of corporate culture and accountability, particularly in the food industry, where consumer trust is paramount. The remarks made by Bally have raised questions about the company’s commitment to its customer base and the integrity of its products. As Campbell navigates this public relations crisis, the implications of the allegations may extend beyond immediate financial impacts, potentially affecting the company’s reputation and consumer confidence in its brand. With social media amplifying the situation, Campbell is faced with the challenge of restoring its image and reaffirming its dedication to quality and transparency in its food production processes.
Campbell Company denied claims apparently made by an executive that its chicken is 3D-printed.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Campbell placed an executive on leave after a lawsuit alleged he badmouthed the company privately.
An audio recording shows an apparent Campbell VP saying its products are for “poor people.”
Campbell denied the person’s claims that its meat is 3D-printed.
Campbell Soup Company put an executive on leave while investigating claims made in a lawsuit that he trashed the company behind closed doors, including mocking its “poor” customers and saying the company’s meat “came from a 3D printer.”
In a statement Tuesday, the company said the alleged comments by Martin Bally, Campbell’s vice president of information technology, were “unacceptable.”
“Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company,” the company said. “We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”
The move follows a lawsuit filed Thursday in a Michigan court by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst at the company who said he was fired after complaining about Bally.
According to the lawsuit, Garza recorded a meeting with Bally where the executive insulted the intelligence of his Indian colleagues and said the company’s products were for “poor people.”
The law firm representing Garza provided Business Insider with an apparent recording of the meeting. The recording was not included as an exhibit in the lawsuit, and Business Insider hasn’t independently authenticated it.
The recording
features a conversation where a person belittles Campbell and its products.
@butthatsmybackup
I’m never eating Campbells again
#campbells
#soup
#meat
♬ original sound – ButThatsMyBackup
“If you look at our fucking pantry — we have shit for fucking poor people, right?” the person said.
“I don’t buy fucking Campbell’s products barely anymore,” the person continues in the tirade. “It’s unhealthy.”
At one point in the recording of the meeting, which appears to take place at a restaurant, the person refers to Campbell’s food as “bioengineered.”
“Even in a can of soup — I look at it, and look at bioengineered meat,” the person said. “I don’t want to eat a fucking piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer, do you?”
Elsewhere in the recorded conversation, the person recounts an instance where he tried to help a colleague with a tech issue. He blamed “Indians” in an expletive-filled rant for not resolving it without him.
Bally didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
In its statement Tuesday, Campbell said the remarks about its food were “patently absurd” and that the chicken meat in its soups “comes from long-trusted, USDA approved U.S. suppliers.”
“Keep in mind, the alleged comments heard on the audio were made by a person in IT, who has nothing to do with how we make our food,” the company said.
The audio has become a public relations nightmare for the soup-maker. Despite Campbell’s denials, the remarks about bioengineered and 3D-printed chicken have bounced around social media and drawn the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who said he would investigate the company.
“Florida law bans lab-grown meat,” Uthmeier posted on X. “Our Consumer Protection division is launching an investigation and will demand answers from Campbell’s.”
Campbell’s stock closed down on Tuesday by 0.62% to $30.42 a share.
The person in the recorded meeting had other criticisms for Campbell.
He bemoaned the lack of innovation in the food industry and said the company overpaid for its
2023 acquisition
of Sovos Brands, which makes Rao’s pasta sauce, for $2.7 billion.
Dropping a bunch of F-bombs, he said Sovos was just a “recipe and a brand.”
“We don’t own a plant. Somebody else manufactures it for us,” he said, calling the situation “smoke and mirrors.”
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