Campbell Soup Company puts VP Martin Bally on leave after alleged “3D-printed chicken” rant; stock wobbles as brand defends ingredients

Campbell Soup Company has placed Vice President of Information Technology Martin Bally on leave and launched an internal investigation after a former employee released a secret recording that appears to capture Bally disparaging the brand’s products and customers while referencing “bioengineered meat” and “3D-printed chicken.” The company is pushing back hard, stating its soups do not use 3D-printed or lab-grown meat and emphasizing that the executive had no role in recipe or sourcing decisions. Campbell’s Soup stock saw a brief dip as the controversy spread, with investors weighing reputational risk against the company’s steady grocery-aisle footprint ahead of the holiday season.

What happened: alleged comments and the Garza lawsuit

A wrongful-termination lawsuit filed by former employee Robert Garza includes audio he says was recorded during a 2024 meeting with Bally. In the clip, a speaker alleged to be Bally mocks Campbell’s core pantry items as food for “poor people,” uses profane language about customers, and suggests the company uses “3D-printed chicken.” The filing also accuses the executive of making disparaging remarks about colleagues and workplace conduct. Campbell has denounced the remarks as unacceptable, said the recording is under review, and confirmed Bally is on leave pending the outcome.

Campbell’s response: “No 3D-printed, lab-grown, or bioengineered meat”

Facing viral claims, the company issued a categorical denial that any Campbell’s soups contain 3D-printed or lab-grown chicken, or any kind of artificial or “bioengineered” meat. Campbell says its chicken is sourced from established U.S. suppliers who meet federal standards, and reaffirmed that food ingredient and safety decisions sit with culinary, quality, and supply-chain teams—not information technology leadership. The brand framed the recording’s claims about ingredients as both inaccurate and implausible for a high-volume, regulated packaged-food operation.

Martin Bally’s role and what “on leave” means

Martin Bally serves as the company’s vice president of information technology and also functions as its chief information security officer. While the position oversees cybersecurity, systems, and data governance, it does not direct recipes, procurement of proteins, or production methods. Being placed on leave typically removes the executive from day-to-day duties as the company interviews witnesses, authenticates audio, and assesses potential policy violations. Campbell has not provided a timeline for completing the probe.

Why “3D printer” and “bioengineered” claims hit a nerve

• Consumer trust: Center-store soup is a staple purchase. Allegations of exotic processing—accurate or not—challenge a brand’s core promise of comfort and familiarity.

• Regulatory backdrop: Some jurisdictions are actively debating or restricting lab-grown meat. Even though the company says it doesn’t use it, the term alone can prompt scrutiny.

• Misinformation risk: Technical buzzwords like “3D printing” are easily misunderstood. In food, they conjure images far removed from current industrial cooking, which is governed by long-standing safety and labeling rules.

Campbell’s stock and investor lens

Campbell’s Soup stock showed knee-jerk volatility as the story gained traction. Food-staples names often weather reputational squalls, but investors are watching for any signs of sales drag in core soup, broth, and sauces, as well as ripple effects on recently acquired brands. Key variables include how quickly the company closes its investigation, whether additional recordings surface, and how retailers and consumers respond during the crucial holiday and winter-soup season.

What consumers should know about labels and sourcing

• Ingredient panels: U.S. packaged foods require clear ingredient labeling. If a product contained lab-grown or novel engineered meat, it would face regulatory review and, in many cases, additional disclosure.

• Supply chains: Large soup makers rely on contracted poultry processors that must comply with federal inspection and safety standards.

• Quality teams vs. IT: Recipe formulation, supplier approval, and plant audits are handled by culinary, R&D, quality, and procurement departments—not by information technology executives.

Timeline: Campbell’s and Martin Bally controversy

• Nov. 2024: The recorded meeting referenced in the lawsuit allegedly occurs.

• Recent days: Lawsuit filed; audio shared publicly, triggering widespread online attention.

• Within 24 hours: Campbell places Bally on leave and issues statements rejecting the ingredient claims and condemning the language heard on the recording.

• Today: Stock trades choppy as the company reiterates that its soups use conventionally sourced chicken and that the investigation is ongoing.

What to watch next

• Internal findings: Confirmation of audio authenticity, policy reviews, and any disciplinary decisions concerning the executive.

• Sales impact: Syndicated data in the next several weeks will signal whether the headlines dent pantry-stocking behavior.

• Regulatory inquiries: State-level officials have sought clarity on the claims; further questions could prolong the news cycle.

• Corporate communications: Expect sustained messaging around sourcing, quality testing, and labeling to reassure consumers.

Campbell Soup Company is confronting a reputational flare-up sparked by a secret recording that, if authentic, shows a senior IT executive mocking customers and invoking “3D-printed chicken.” The company has moved swiftly—suspending the executive, rejecting the claims about ingredients, and defending its sourcing. With holiday demand peaking and cold-weather soup season underway, the brand’s priority is to close the investigation quickly and keep consumer trust intact while Campbell’s Soup stock rides out the headline risk.