The Chief Executive Officer of Bon Bread, Maria Abdulkadir, has explained the company’s decision to file a ₦50 million defamation lawsuit against a TikTok user who posted a viral video questioning the safety of a loaf that allegedly remained fresh for two months.
The controversy began after a TikTok user identified as Love Dooshimaa posted a video expressing concern over what she described as the unusually long shelf life of a sliced loaf, which she claimed remained unspoiled two months after purchase. In the video, she did not mention any brand name or show any product packaging or logo.
Shortly after the video went viral, Bon Bread reportedly reached out to her via direct message, asking her to delete the video and giving a 6 p.m. deadline. When she refused, explaining she had not targeted any specific company, the bakery’s lawyers served her with court papers demanding ₦50 million in damages.
In a video posted on the company’s Instagram page on Friday, Abdulkadir said the firm resorted to legal action after attempts to engage the content creator and verify the claims reportedly failed.
“I made a call to her because I wanted to understand where she got the bread from and how it could have lasted two months, as she claimed,” Abdulkadir said. “But she shut me out. I also noticed that people in her comment section were already linking the video to Bon Bread, and she engaged some of those comments.”
She maintained that the bread could not remain fresh for such a period, insisting the company was being wrongly associated with the claim. She added that the legal action was not intended to intimidate the content creator but to compel her to substantiate her allegations.
“We believe in freedom of speech and respect everyone’s right to express opinions. However, we stand firmly behind the safety and quality of our product. Our bread is freshly baked and typically does not last beyond a few days without preservatives,” she said.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion about food safety standards in Nigeria’s baking industry and the rights of both consumers and businesses when content goes viral on social media. The case is now before the courts, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.
