A senior executive at American food giant Campbell’s made offensive remarks about Indian employees during a recorded conversation, according to a lawsuit filed by a former worker who says he captured the comments at a meeting last year. The complaint claims the recording included derogatory statements about Indian colleagues and criticism of Campbell’s products, and says the executive was later placed on leave as the allegations surfaced.
Lawsuit alleges derogatory comments about Indian employees
The legal complaint was brought by Robert Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst who claims he met Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally at a restaurant in November 2024, expecting to discuss his salary. Instead, Garza says he heard a tirade in which Bally called Indian employees “idiots” and complained that they could not think for themselves during a technical incident. According to the complaint and the recording, Bally can allegedly be heard saying “F**king Indians” and “They couldn’t think for their f**king selves.” Garza secretly recorded the exchange, telling local media he had an instinct that something was not right.In the recording, Bally can also allegedly be heard describing Campbell’s food as highly processed and intended for poor people. He suggested the company might use bioengineered meat and said he no longer consumed Campbell’s products because he did not want to eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer.
Campbell’s rejects product claims and responds to allegations
Campbell’s issued a statement saying that if the comments attributed to Bally were made, they were unacceptable and did not reflect the values or culture of the company. It strongly rejected any suggestion that its soups do not contain real chicken, stating that ingredients come from suppliers approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. The company noted that Bally works in IT and has no involvement in food production or sourcing.The company confirmed that Bally had been placed on temporary leave while an internal investigation is underway. He has worked at Campbell’s since January 2022 and has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology sector. He did not respond to requests for comment.
Former employee claims retaliation after reporting remarks
Garza says he reported the comments to his supervisor on 10 January, but was not advised to escalate the issue to human resources. On 30 January, he says his employment was abruptly terminated after almost four years with the firm. The lawsuit alleges that the dismissal was retaliatory and caused him stress, mental anguish and financial harm. He is seeking damages and attorney fees.The complaint also claims that Bally told Garza he often appeared at work under the influence of marijuana edibles. In the recording, the person alleged to be Bally discusses using edibles to sleep due to work pressures, saying lack of rest was affecting job performance. Garza’s attorney says the recording was legally obtained under Michigan law, which allows a person to record a conversation they are part of without notifying the other party.Following reports of the lawsuit, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state bans lab grown meat and announced that its consumer protection division would investigate and demand answers from Campbell’s. The company recently changed its name from Campbell Soup Co. to the Campbell’s Co. to reflect a broader portfolio that includes brands such as Goldfish, Prego, Rao’s and Kettle.
