Campbell’s executive placed on leave after mocking poor people
Campbell Soup Company has placed Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally on temporary leave following a leaked audio recording in which he allegedly disparages the company’s products, mocks customers as “poor people,” and makes racist remarks about Indian employees.
The controversy emerged from a lawsuit filed on November 21, 2025, in Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan by former Campbell’s cybersecurity analyst Robert Garza, who secretly recorded an hour-long conversation with Bally during what was supposed to be a salary discussion in November 2024.
The recording
In portions of the audio aired by Detroit television station WDIV, Bally is heard making explosive statements about Campbell’s products and customers:
“We have s--t for f---ing 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.”
“Bioengineered meat — I don’t wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3-D printer.”
The recording, which lasted more than an hour and fifteen minutes, also allegedly captured Bally making derogatory comments about Indian employees, calling them “idiots” and stating “f---ing Indians don’t know a f---ing thing” and that “they couldn’t think for their f---ing selves.” Bally also allegedly admitted to regularly coming to work high on marijuana edibles.
The lawsuit
Garza, a Monroe, Michigan, resident who began working remotely as a security analyst for Campbell’s Camden, New Jersey, headquarters in September 2024, said he recorded the conversation because he trusted his “instinct that something wasn’t right with Martin.” He kept the recording to himself initially but reported Bally’s comments to his direct supervisor, J.D. Aupperle, in January 2025.
According to Garza’s attorney, Zachary Runyan, Garza was terminated 20 days after making the report. “He was really sticking up for other people,” Runyan told reporters. “He went to his boss and said, ‘Martin is saying this about Indian coworkers we have, he’s saying this about people who buy our food—who keep our company open—and I don’t think that should be allowed.’ And the response to Robert sticking up for other people is he gets fired, which is ridiculous.”
The lawsuit alleges that Campbell Soup Company maintained a racially hostile work environment and that Garza’s termination on January 30, 2025, was retaliatory. Garza is seeking compensation for emotional, reputational, and economic harm, as well as attorneys’ fees. He said it took him 10 months to find another job after being fired.
Campbell’s response
Campbell Soup Company released a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations: “If the comments were in fact made, they are unacceptable. They do not reflect our values and the culture of our company. Mr. Bally is temporarily on leave while we conduct an investigation.”
The company has vigorously defended its products, with director of external communications James Regan stating: “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 specifically addressed the bioengineered meat claims: “We use 100% real chicken in our soup. The chicken meat comes from long-trusted, USDA-approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high-quality standards. All our soup is made with antibiotics-free chicken meat. Any claims to the contrary are completely false.”
The company also noted that Bally works in information technology and “has nothing to do with how we make our food.”
Florida investigation
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the state’s Consumer Protection Division is launching an investigation into Campbell’s products following the leaked recording. In a post on X, Uthmeier declared: “We don’t allow fake, lab-grown meat in Florida. We will enforce the law and shut them down!”
Florida is among seven states that currently prohibit the production and sale of lab-grown meat, with the state’s ban taking effect last year. The investigation has raised concerns about potential job losses at Campbell’s facilities in Florida, though the company has denied using any bioengineered or lab-grown meat in its products.
About Martin Bally
Bally has served as Campbell’s Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer since January 2022. Before joining Campbell’s, he held similar positions at Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler), Diebold Nixdorf, American Axle & Manufacturing, and TRW Automotive. Cyber Defense Magazine recognized him as one of the top 100 CISOs in 2020, and he holds multiple cybersecurity certifications, including CISSP, CISM, and CRISC. He earned a Master’s degree in Information Assurance from Norwich University.
What’s next
The case is in its initial stages of litigation, with Campbell Soup Company and its supervisor, J.D. Aupperle, expected to respond to the complaint formally. The court will establish a timeline for discovery, hearings, and motions. Both parties will share evidence, including the full recording, human resources documents, emails, and personnel files.