Campbell’s has dismissed an executive who allegedly referred to the soup company’s products as being made for “poor people” and denigrated its Indian employees.
Martin Bally, who was the vice-president of Campbell’s information technology department, was recorded making the alleged comments by another employee.
Campbell’s – which started producing canned condensed soup in 1897, and whose cans feature in some of Andy Warhol’s best-known 1960s pop artworks – said it had reviewed the recording and believed the voice to belong to Bally.
Campbell’s made “highly processed food” and “shit for fucking poor people”, Bally reportedly told a former employee, Robert Garza, according to a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Garza.
In an hour-long rant, broadcast by a Michigan TV station, Bally goes on to say: “Who buys our shit? I don’t buy Campbell’s products barely any more. It’s not healthy now that I know what the fuck’s in it … bioengineered meat.
“I don’t wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer.”
Allegedly referring to Campbell’s employees of Indian heritage, Bally said: “Fucking Indians don’t know a fucking thing … Like they couldn’t think for their fucking selves.”
Garza, who was a security analyst at Campbell’s, told a local news outlet he recorded Bally when he met him to discuss his salary and felt something was not right. He is now suing the company for unfair dismissal and is alleging that Bally made racist remarks, admitted to being under the influence of drugs at work, and retaliated when Garza tried to make a complaint about him.
Campbell’s – which rebranded last year, dropping “soup” from its name to reflect a move to selling more snack foods – apologised for the “hurt” caused by Bally’s comments, which it described as “vulgar, offensive and false”.
In a statement, Campbell’s said Bally had been dismissed, adding: “This behaviour does not reflect our values and the culture of our company, and we will not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”
Campbell’s dismissed Bally’s allegation that the chicken used in its soups was “bioengineered”, calling the comments about its food “not only inaccurate – they are patently absurd”.
The company said: “The chicken meat in our soups comes from long-trusted, USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] approved US suppliers and meets our high quality standards. All our soups are made with no antibiotics ever chicken meat. Any claims to the contrary are completely false.”
New Jersey-based Campbell’s can trace its history back over 150 years. In more recent times, it has expanded its product range to include more snacks and owns brands including V8 drinks, Prego sauces and Kettle Brand, the maker of Kettle Chips.
Bally has been approached for comment.
