Who is Martin Bally? Campbell’s Soup VP Faces Backlash Over Bioengineered Meat Remarks

A major controversy has hit Campbell’s after a leaked recording of one of its senior executives went viral online. The audio clip features Martin Bally, the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Campbell’s, making harsh comments about the company’s canned soup and its customers.

The recording was released by Robert Garza, a former remote employee who joined the company in September 2024. Garza met Bally at a restaurant in November 2024 to discuss a salary raise. But instead of discussing work, Bally allegedly went on a long rant that lasted more than an hour.

What Did Martin Bally Say in the Recording?

According to Garza, Bally criticized Campbell’s canned chicken soup and claimed that it was made with bioengineered meat. He even said he would never buy the soup himself.

In the recording, Bally also said that “poor people” are the ones who buy Campbell’s products. He mocked the soup by suggesting that the chicken in it looked like it came from “a 3D printer.”

He reportedly said:

“We have products for poor people. Who buys our stuff? I don’t buy Campbell’s products anymore. It’s not healthy. Even in a can of soup, I see bioengineered meat. I don’t want to eat chicken from a 3D printer.”

The rant did not stop there. Bally also insulted his Indian colleagues and claimed they did not know what they were doing.

How Did the Complaint Lead to Garza’s Firing?

Garza reported the recording to his supervisor, J.D. Aupperle, in January 2025. But instead of receiving support, he was fired 20 days later.

Garza’s lawyer, Zachary Runyan, said that Garza had no performance issues and no complaint was ever filed against him. He also said that the HR department never followed up on Garza’s report. It took Garza ten months to find another job.

Garza has now filed a lawsuit against Campbell’s and his supervisor.

Campbell’s Responds to the Viral Recording

Campbell’s issued a statement saying that if the audio is real, the comments are completely “unacceptable” and do not match the company’s values.

The company added that Bally works in IT and has no involvement in how the food is made. They called his claims about bioengineered meat “patently absurd.”

Campbell’s clarified that all chicken used in their soups comes from USDA-approved suppliers. They also said the chicken is No Antibiotics Ever, meaning no antibiotics are used at any point in the process.

Florida Attorney General Reacts

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also commented on the controversy. He posted on social media that lab-grown meat is banned in Florida. He also confirmed that the state’s Consumer Protection Division has opened an investigation into Campbell’s.