Campbell's soup thought nobody would find out about the 3D-printed chicken.
But a VP's profanity-laced meltdown got caught on tape.
And one secret recording from Campbell's VP just triggered Florida's nuclear option against lab-grown meat.
Florida launches criminal probe after executive's shocking admission
Uthmeier announced Monday that his office is launching a probe into Campbell's after company Vice President Martin Bally was allegedly recorded condemning the use of "bioengineered ingredients" and "fake meat" from emerging food-tech methods.
"Florida law bans lab-grown meat. Our Consumer Protection division is launching an investigation and will demand answers from Campbell's," Uthmeier posted on X.
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1992956482351215039?s=20
The Attorney General didn't mince words about what happens next.
"We don't do the fake, lab grown meat here in Florida. We'll enforce the law and shut down!" Uthmeier warned.
This isn't some academic debate about food regulations. Campbell's is staring down the barrel of Florida's ironclad lab-grown meat ban — and one executive's rant just handed prosecutors the smoking gun they needed.
Former employee recorded hour-long tirade about "3D-printed meat"
Robert Garza, who worked as a security analyst for Campbell's starting in September 2024, said he recorded an hour-long meeting with Bally in December 2024 when he thought they'd be discussing his salary.
Instead, Garza sat through what he described as a "disgusting" tirade.
https://twitter.com/LightOnLiberty/status/1992656270856212778?s=20
Then came the bombshell that has Florida investigators circling.
"Bioengineered meat — I don't wanna eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer," the voice identified as Bally stated.
The recording lasted longer than an hour and 15 minutes and included what Garza said was a "disgusting" rant about his coworkers, including racist comments about Indian employees.
Bally also allegedly admitted to regularly coming to work high from marijuana edibles.
This is a Fortune 500 company vice president we're talking about, not some random guy at a bar.
Campbell's fires whistleblower, claims executive's words are "patently absurd"
Garza did what any decent person would do. He reported Bally's comments to his supervisor in January 2025.
Twenty days later, Campbell's fired him.
"He reached out to his supervisor and told the supervisor what Martin was saying, and then out of nowhere, my client was fired," said Garza's attorney Zachary Runyan. "He was really sticking up for other people."
Garza had no disciplinary history. No write-ups. Nothing.
Campbell's scrambled to control the damage once the recording went public.
The company put Bally on temporary leave and released a statement claiming the comments are "patently absurd."
"The chicken meat used in our soups comes from long-trusted, USDA approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high quality standards," Campbell's Director of External Communications James F. Regan insisted.
The company added that Bally "works in IT and has nothing to do with how we make our food."
Translation: Don't listen to our own vice president talking about what goes into our products.
Florida's lab-grown meat ban puts Campbell's in legal crosshairs
Here's the problem Campbell's can't talk its way out of.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida's lab-grown meat ban into law in 2024, making it illegal "for any person to manufacture for sale, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute cultivated meat" in the state.
"Today, Florida is fighting back against the global elite's plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals," DeSantis said when he signed the ban.
Violators face up to 60 days in jail. Businesses caught selling the product could lose their licenses.
DeSantis made protecting Florida's cattle industry and traditional agriculture a cornerstone of his agenda.
He called lab-grown meat "a disgraceful attempt to undermine our proud traditions."
Campbell's just became the test case.
If Bally's claims about "bioengineered meat" and "3D-printed chicken" turn out to be true, Campbell's isn't just facing a public relations nightmare.
They're looking at criminal violations of Florida law affecting every can of soup they sell in the state.
And Uthmeier isn't known for backing down from fights with woke corporations.
Garza filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court alleging wrongful termination and hostile work environment.
But that's the least of Campbell's worries now.
The Florida Attorney General's investigation could shut down Campbell's entire Florida operation if they've been violating the state's lab-grown meat ban. Every grocery store. Every restaurant. Every distribution center.
DeSantis and Uthmeier warned companies about pushing fake meat on Floridians.
Campbell's executives apparently thought the rules didn't apply to them.
Now they're about to find out what happens when you lie to consumers in a state that takes food safety seriously.
¹ Florida Voice News, "Florida AG launches probe into Campbell's over lab-grown meat claims, company calls executive's comments 'patently false,'" November 24, 2025.
² Local 4 News Detroit, "Campbell Soup exec caught on secret recording slamming product, people who buy it," November 22, 2025.
³ Governor DeSantis, "Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Keep Lab-Grown Meat Out of Florida," May 1, 2024.
