'We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use,' the statement read in part.

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.

Comment: Giacomazzo's followup on the story. Campbell's may come to regret blowing up the situation:

Campbell's is now facing pressure on multiple fronts after comments from a secretly recorded company executive triggered both a lawsuit and a new investigation from Florida's top law enforcement office.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the state has opened a consumer protection probe into the company, citing statements made in the viral audio and warning that any violation of Florida's lab-grown meat ban could lead to severe consequences.

On X, Uthmeier wrote, "We don't do the fake, lab-grown meat here in Florida. We'll enforce the law and shut down!"

He added that Campbell's would be required to respond to inquiries from his office after the recording was broadcast.

Portions of that recording featured a speaker identified as Campbell's Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Martin Bally, discussing "bioengineered meat" and comparing chicken used in soup products to something "from a 3D printer."

Campbell's pushed back firmly. In a statement provided to Newsweek, James F. Regan, the company's director of external communications, said, "We use 100% real chicken in our soups. The chicken meat comes from long-trusted, USDA-approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high-quality standards. All of our soups are made with No Antibiotics Ever chicken meat. Any claims to the contrary are completely false."

Florida's response stems from legislation that took effect on July 1, 2024, making it the first state in the country to prohibit the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of cultivated meat — defined as any product derived from cultured animal cells.

The law, SB1084, classifies violations as second-degree misdemeanors. Businesses can face disciplinary actions, including potential license suspension, while individuals can face fines or up to 60 days in jail. Research into cultivated meat remains allowed, and the ban does not apply to plant-based alternatives.

This latest development adds to an already complex situation for Campbell's. The underlying recording at the center of the dispute was made by former employee Robert Garza, who worked remotely as a security analyst starting in September 2024.

According to a lawsuit he filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, Garza had a scheduled meeting with Bally regarding his salary. Garza said he began recording after sensing the conversation was veering off track — ultimately capturing more than an hour of commentary.

In the audio, the speaker, identified as Bally, uses profanity to describe Campbell's products, calling them "poor people," products, questioning their healthiness, and criticizing the ingredients.

He also referenced "bioengineered meat," which is what prompted the Florida probe. Other remarks allegedly included derogatory comments about Indian employees and admissions of using marijuana edibles before coming to work.

Garza reported the recording to his supervisor in January 2025. Twenty days later, he was terminated. His lawsuit alleges retaliation and claims Campbell's maintained a racially hostile work environment. His attorney emphasized that Garza had no prior disciplinary issues and had never been written up.

Campbell's previously stated, "If the recording is legitimate, the comments 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."