Campbell’s has placed Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally on temporary leave after a lawsuit revealed a secretly recorded rant in which he allegedly insulted Campbell’s products, customers, and Indian employees.
In an emailed statement, the company addressed the allegations in full.
“If the recording is legitimate, the comments are unacceptable," the statement began. "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 added context to the remarks attributed to Bally, including comments about the quality of Campbell’s soup ingredients.
“We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use," the statement continued. "The comments on the recording are not only inaccurate—they are patently absurd.”
Campbell’s also noted that Bally is not involved in food development. “Keep in mind, the alleged comments are made by an IT person, who has nothing to do with how we make our food,” the statement concluded.
The statement follows claims made by former Campbell’s security analyst Robert Garza, who filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court alleging that Bally launched into an hour-long tirade during what was meant to be a discussion about Garza’s salary.
Garza, who began working remotely for the company’s Camden, New Jersey headquarters in September 2024, said he recorded the conversation after sensing something was off.
According to the complaint, the recording captured Bally referring to Campbell’s soups as products for “poor people,” criticizing the company’s “highly processed” offerings, and claiming he avoided eating Campbell’s foods because of “what’s in it.”
In one instance, he allegedly mocked the chicken used in certain soups by saying he didn’t want to eat a piece of meat that came from a “3-D printer.”
Garza also alleges that Bally insulted Indian employees, calling them “idiots” and claiming they “couldn’t think for themselves.” The lawsuit further states that Bally admitted to using marijuana edibles before work.
Garza says he reported the recording to his supervisor in January 2025. Twenty days later, he was terminated. His lawsuit accuses Campbell’s of retaliation and maintaining a racially hostile work environment.
Campbell’s did not comment on the circumstances surrounding Garza’s firing but confirmed in their emailed statement that the investigation into Bally’s alleged comments remains ongoing.