A can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup (inset) and the Campbell's headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A former Campbell’s Company employee claims a top executive unleashed an hour-long rant filled with racist remarks, insults about the company’s products, and admissions of drug use — and that he was fired weeks later for reporting it.

In a wrongful termination lawsuit filed in Michigan Thursday, Nov. 20, Robert Garza claims he met with Martin Bally, Campbell’s chief information security officer, at the company’s corporate headquarters in Camden, New Jersey, in November 2024.

The meeting came just months after Garza was hired as a cybersecurity analyst and was supposed to center around his salary. Instead, he listened to a shocking, profanity-laced monologue, his lawsuit claims.

According to the complaint, which was obtained by Daily Voice, Bally made derogatory comments about Indian employees, calling them “idiots,” and said Campbell products were “highly processed food” for “poor people.”

Garza told Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV he recorded the entire conversation — roughly 75 minutes — because “something wasn’t right with Martin” heading into the meeting. The recording, aired by the station, included comments attributed to Bally such as:

“We have s–t for f—ing poor people. Who buys our s–t? I don’t buy Campbell’s products… It’s not healthy now that I know what the f—‘s in it,” Bally allegedly says in the recording.

Another portion, allegedly referring to Indian employees, stated: “F—ing Indians don’t know a f—ing thing… like they couldn’t think for their f—ing selves.”

Garza’s lawsuit also alleges that Bally often showed up to work “high from marijuana edibles.”

Garza claims he went to his direct supervisor, in January 2025, to report what he’d heard. According to the lawsuit, the supervisor did not encourage him to contact human resources or direct him on how to proceed. Twenty days later, on Jan. 30, Garza was abruptly fired.

In a statement to Daily Voice, Garza’s attorney, Zachary Runyan, said the ordeal has been “very hard” for his client.

“He thought Campbell’s would be thankful that he reported Martin’s behavior, but instead he was abruptly fired.” Runywan said. “We look forward to obtaining justice for Robert.”

A Campbell spokesperson told CBS News the company was not aware of the recording before it aired and cannot confirm its authenticity. The spokesperson said Bally works in IT and “has nothing to do with how we make our food,” and confirmed he has been placed on temporary leave pending an investigation.

“If the comments were in fact made, they are unacceptable,” the company said, adding that the remarks about Campbell products were “patently absurd.” Campbell also defended the quality of its soups, noting they use “100% real chicken.”

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday, Nov. 24, that his office’s Consumer Protection division is reviewing Campbell’s product quality following the controversy, CBS News further reported.

Garza told WDIV the ordeal left him “disgusted” and said it took him 10 months to find new work. “They have a motto: ‘We treat you like family here at Campbell‘s," he said. "That's not the case."

The lawsuit seeks a broad range of financial damages, including compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and other economic and non-economic harm, along with attorney’s fees and additional damages a jury may decide. It does not specify a dollar amount.

Click here to view the complete lawsuit.