The Campbells Co. said Tuesday it has placed one of its executives on leave while it investigates claims that he made racist comments and mocked the companys products and customers in an audio recording.

Martin Bally, Campbells vice president of information technology, was named in a lawsuit filed last week by Robert Garza, a former Campbells employee. The lawsuit was filed in Michigan, where both men live. Campbells is headquartered in New Jersey.

In the lawsuit, Garza claimed he met with Bally in November 2024 to discuss his salary. During the meeting, which Garza allegedly recorded, Bally described Campbells as highly process(ed) food and said it was for poor people.

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Garza claimed that Bally made ra

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