Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced an investigation into claims that Campbell’s uses lab-grown meat in its soups, following a controversial recording allegedly featuring the company’s Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Martin Bally. In the clip, Bally reportedly refers to the meat as “bioengineered,” saying, “It’s not healthy now that I know what the f***’s in it… bioengineered meat — I don’t wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer.”
Under Florida law, lab-grown meat is banned, prompting the state’s Consumer Protection division to demand answers from Campbell’s. The claims emerged after former Campbell’s security analyst Robert Garza released the recording and filed a lawsuit alleging he was fired for raising concerns about Bally’s racist remarks and inappropriate comments.
Campbell’s has denied the allegations, stating in a spokesperson’s note that all chicken used in its soups comes from USDA-approved suppliers and meets strict quality standards, including “No Antibiotics Ever” protocols. The company emphasized that the comments in the recording, if authentic, are “made by an IT person, who has nothing to do with how we make our food” and do not reflect the company’s values. Bally is reportedly on temporary leave while the company investigates.
Lab-grown or “cultured” meat, legally allowed in the U.S. since 2022, is produced by cultivating animal cells in controlled bioreactors instead of raising livestock. Florida banned such products in 2024, citing concerns over potential disruption to traditional agriculture and family farms.
Garza’s lawsuit claims that after raising issues about Bally’s conduct — including racist remarks toward Indian colleagues and disparaging comments about the company’s products and customers — he was abruptly terminated on January 30, 2025. The suit alleges retaliation and describes Campbell’s workplace as racially toxic, accusing the company of causing Garza emotional distress, humiliation, and economic damages.
The controversy has drawn public attention to Campbell’s workplace culture and Florida’s stance on lab-grown meat, while the AG’s office has confirmed it will thoroughly examine the matter.
