Campbell's Soup Executive Allegedly Slams Company In Secret Recording, Calling Its Products 'S--- For Poor People'

A senior executive at The Campbell’s Company — formerly Campbell Soup Company — has been placed on temporary leave as the company investigates accusations that he disparaged both its products and customers in a secretly recorded meeting, according to FOX Business.

The lawsuit, filed by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst, alleges that Campbell’s Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Martin Bally, referred to the company’s food as “s— for poor people” during a November 2024 meeting at the company’s Camden, NJ, headquarters. The complaint, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan, says Bally’s remarks were captured on a recording.

In the recording, as FOX Business reports, a voice identified as Bally’s allegedly ridicules Campbell’s customers, saying, “Who buys our s—? I don’t buy Campbell’s products barely anymore.”

The voice also reportedly criticizes the food itself, expressing disdain for “bioengineered meat” and saying he did not want to “eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3-D printer.”

According to the outlet, Bally also allegedly made offensive comments about Indian employees, saying, “F—ing Indians don’t know a f—ing thing … They couldn’t think for their f—ing selves.” The recording reportedly includes an admission that Bally sometimes came to work under the influence of marijuana.

Garza, who began working at Campbell’s in September 2024, said he secretly recorded the meeting and initially kept the recording to himself. He later reported the comments to his supervisor. About 20 days later, Garza said he was terminated. His lawsuit accuses The Campbell’s Company of fostering a racially hostile work environment and retaliating against him for speaking out.

FOX Business notes that Garza’s attorney told local media that his client’s actions were motivated by a desire to protect fellow employees. “He was really sticking up for other people,” the attorney said. Garza is seeking damages for wrongful termination and retaliation.

A Campbell’s spokesperson confirmed to The New York Post that Bally has been placed on temporary leave. The company said that if the comments were made, they are “unacceptable” and do not reflect the organization’s “values and culture.” The spokesperson defended the company’s products, saying, “We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it, and the high-quality ingredients we use. The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate — they are patently absurd.”

Campbell’s also said it was unaware of the recording until the lawsuit was filed, according to FOX Business. As the internal investigation continues, the company has not publicly filed a court response to Garza’s complaint.