Campbell Foods Co. has let go of an executive who reportedly labeled its products as “fucking poor people’s shit,” according to Fox Business.
Martin Barry, who served as the vice president of information security, was allegedly caught on secret recordings belittling the company’s food offerings a year back. A spokesperson for the company stated that Barry’s remarks were “vile, offensive and false.”
Campbell’s indicated that the voice in the recording was believed to belong to Barry, who is no longer with the company as of Tuesday.
A spokesperson emphasized, “We apologize for the hurt they have caused. This behavior does not reflect our values or culture, and we do not tolerate such language under any circumstances.”
Previously, the company mentioned that Barry had been temporarily suspended while an internal investigation was ongoing.
The recording surfaced recently as part of a lawsuit filed in Michigan’s Wayne County Circuit Court by a former employee named Robert Garza.
Garza, a former cybersecurity analyst at the firm, stated to Local 4 News Detroit that he recorded the audio during a meeting at a restaurant last November.
He initially kept the recording private but later shared it with his supervisor. After about 20 days, Garza was terminated and is now alleging retaliation and a racially hostile work atmosphere in his complaint.
In the recording, Barry reportedly said, “We have money for the poor. Who will buy our money? I hardly ever buy Campbell products anymore.” He also commented, “Bioengineered meat – I don’t want to eat chicken made with a 3D printer.”
Additionally, he was allegedly recorded saying, “Indians don’t know this. They couldn’t think for themselves.”
According to reports, Campbell’s claimed it first became aware of the lawsuit and some of the recordings on November 20, and neither Garza nor his attorney had informed the company beforehand.
Campbell’s described the comments about the recordings as “inaccurate” and “patently unreasonable.”
The company also expressed gratitude, stating, “We are thankful to the millions of people who purchase and enjoy our products and are honored by the trust they have placed in our company. We take pride in the food we make, our dedicated team, and the quality ingredients we use to offer consumers good food at affordable prices.”
