By Tom Ozimek
Contributing Writer
The Campbell’s Co. has rejected claims that it uses 3D-printed, lab-grown, or otherwise artificial chicken in its soups, calling the allegations “patently absurd” and reiterating that all of its chicken comes from USDA-approved U.S. suppliers.
The company, formerly known as the Campbell Soup Co., issued a statement on Tuesday after the emergence of an audio recording in which a senior IT executive appeared to disparage the company’s products and customers.
“We do not use 3D-printed chicken, lab-grown chicken, or any form of artificial or bioengineered meat in our soups,” Campbell’s said in the statement.
The recording featuring the controversial ingredient claims was made by former employee Robert Garza and was referenced in a lawsuit he filed against Campbell’s in Michigan last week.
The audio allegedly captures Martin Bally, Campbell’s vice president of information technology, making a series of insulting remarks about Campbell’s food, customers and workforce, including mocking the company’s soup as “highly process[ed] food” for “poor people,” along with suggestions that the company use “bioengineered meat.”
“Even in a can of soup, I look at it, and look at bioengineered meat,” the person in the recording says. “I don’t want to eat a [expletive] piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer, do you?”
The authenticity of the recording has not been verified.
Garza alleged in his complaint that he was fired in January after notifying his manager that he wanted to report the comments to human resources, and is seeking monetary damages.
Campbell’s said in a statement on the lawsuit that Bally has been placed on temporary leave pending an internal investigation, adding that the alleged remarks do not reflect Campbell’s values and that Bally had no involvement in food production.
“If the comments heard on the audio recording were in fact made by Mr. Bally, they are unacceptable,” the company said. “Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company. We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”
Campbell’s also rebutted claims that it uses artificial, engineered, or 3D-printed chicken in its soups.
“The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate — they are patently absurd,” Campbell’s said. “The chicken meat in our soups comes from long-trusted, USDA approved U.S. 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.”
In November last year, shareholders approved changing the company’s official name from Campbell Soup Co. to The Campbell’s Co.
Garza’s attorney, Zachary Runyan had not responded to a request for comment by publication time.
The Associated Press and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
