The Chief Executive Officer and founder of Bon Bread, Maria Abdulkadir, has justified the company’s decision to initiate legal proceedings against a TikTok user following a viral video that questioned the safety of a loaf allegedly remaining fresh for two months.
The controversy began when a TikTok user identified as “Love” shared a video expressing concern over what she described as the unusually long shelf life of a loaf of bread. In the clip, she claimed the bread remained unspoiled two months after purchase, sparking widespread reactions across social media platforms.
In a subsequent post, the content creator alleged that Bon Bread had served her a ₦50 million lawsuit despite not mentioning any brand name or displaying a logo in the video.
“Hello guys, you won’t believe what I’m holding in my hands. Bon Bread sent their solicitors to serve me this letter,” she said.
“You remember the video I made three days ago about the bread that has stayed for two months in my shop without going bad? I was very intentional in that video; I didn’t mention any brand, I didn’t show their logo. The next day, Bon Bread sent me a message in my DM.”
Reacting 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 TikToker and verify her 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 stated.
“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 Bon Bread products could not remain fresh for such an extended period, insisting the brand was being wrongly associated with the allegation.
According to her, the legal action was not meant to intimidate but to compel the content creator to substantiate her claims.
“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.
“We simply ask that the public not take everything seen on social media as fact. Behind this brand are real people and livelihoods that have been affected by these claims.”
The development has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians on social media, with users divided over the legal and consumer protection implications.
A Facebook user, Oluwatosin Ibitayo Badmus, urged consumers to remain cautious about bread quality, noting possible changes in ingredients used by some bakeries.
Another user, Gift Onyemenem, argued that the TikToker avoided naming any brand, while Nilla Ezumezu called for regulatory scrutiny, insisting that “no bread should last more than a week.”
On the legal front, Bamigboye Olusola suggested the case may struggle in court since no brand was explicitly mentioned.
However, an Instagram user, Mvpbymrsjay, who identified as a lawyer, said a defamation claim could still stand under “identification by implication” if viewers were able to link the video to a specific brand.
She noted that the outcome would largely depend on whether the statement is proven to be factual or merely an opinion.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Bon Bread nor any relevant regulatory authority has issued further official statements on the matter.
