Campbell Soup Company has placed a top executive on temporary leave following explosive allegations from a former employee who secretly recorded the vice president discussing bioengineered meat and making racist comments about coworkers.
Executive Suspended Amid Growing Scandal
Martin Bally, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Campbell's, was suspended on Tuesday as the world's largest soup manufacturer initiates an internal investigation. This decision comes just days after former employee Robert Garza released audio recordings to media outlets and filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Michigan's Wayne County Circuit Court.
The controversy erupted when Garza provided NBC Detroit affiliate WDIV and Business Insider with recordings he made during a November meeting with Bally at a restaurant. Garza told reporters he recorded the encounter because his instincts warned him that "something wasn't right" with the executive.
Shocking Allegations Revealed in Secret Recording
In the hour-long recording, a man identified as Bally makes numerous controversial statements about Campbell's products and employees. The executive allegedly questioned who buys the company's products, stating "We have s— for f—ing poor people. Who buys our s—" according to the released audio.
Most disturbingly, the recording contains claims about Campbell's ingredients that could alarm consumers. The executive allegedly stated he no longer purchases the company's products because he doesn't consider them "healthy" knowing what they contain.
The man specifically alleged that Campbell's soup contains "bioengineered meat" and expressed concern about eating "a f—ing piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer." Bioengineered meat refers to products grown in laboratories or genetically modified rather than being raised organically.
Racist Remarks and Legal Consequences
The recording also captured disparaging comments about Indian employees at Campbell's. The man is heard saying "F—ing Indians don't know a f—ing thing. Like they couldn't think for their f—ing selves."
Garza's lawsuit, filed on November 23, 2025, alleges that he brought the recordings and his concerns to his supervisor, JP Aupperle, in early January. Rather than addressing the issues, Campbell's terminated Garza before the end of the same month.
The legal claim asserts that Bally, Aupperle, and Campbell's Company are guilty of civil rights violations by creating a racially hostile work environment.
"This situation has been very hard on Robert," Zach Runyan, Garza's lawyer, wrote in an email to National Post. "He thought Campbell's would be thankful that he reported Martin's behavior, but instead he was abruptly fired."
The National Post has not independently verified the authenticity of the audio recordings. The 154-year-old company now faces significant reputation damage as it investigates these serious allegations against one of its top executives.
