Campbell’s Terminates VP Over Alleged "3D Printer" Meat Claims

Campbell’s, the prominent canned soup manufacturer, has announced the termination of its Vice President of Information Technology, Martin Bally. This decision comes after leaked audio recordings allegedly captured Bally claiming that the company’s meat ingredients originate from a "3D printer." These controversial remarks prompted Campbell’s to release an official statement on its website, vehemently denying the allegations and clarifying its ingredient sourcing practices.

"A recent video contained false comments about our ingredients," Campbell’s declared in its statement. "The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate, they are absurd." The company explicitly stated that it does not utilize lab-grown chicken, any form of artificial or bioengineered meat, or 3D-printed chicken in its soup products. Campbell’s further emphasized its commitment to quality, asserting that it sources chicken exclusively from "reputable" US suppliers who adhere to USDA standards.

The audio in question was reportedly released as part of a lawsuit filed against Campbell’s by a former employee, who claims to have recorded a conversation with Bally. During the alleged exchange, the voice identified as Bally purportedly made racist remarks and described Campbell’s food as "bioengineered" and intended for "poor people." Specific statements attributed to Bally in the recording include: "Even in a can of soup, I look at it — and look at bioengineered meat," and a rhetorical question, "I don’t want to eat a fucking piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer, do you?"

Campbell’s later updated its initial statement, confirming its belief that "the voice on the recording is in fact Martin Bally." The company also disclosed that Bally "is no longer employed" by Campbell’s, effectiveNovember 25th.

The concept of 3D-printed chicken, while sounding like science fiction, is not entirely unprecedented in the food industry. KFC, a company that has navigated its own share of chicken-related rumors, announced in 2020 that it was collaborating with a Russian firm. Their goal was to explore the development of lab-grown chicken nuggets, using a method to "print" them from chicken cells and plant-based materials.