The Chief Executive Officer and founder of Bon Bread, Maria Abdulkadir, has explained why the company took legal steps against a TikTok user following a viral video questioning the freshness of its product.
The controversy began after a TikTok user known as “Love” posted a video expressing concern that a loaf of bread allegedly remained unspoiled two months after purchase. The claim quickly gained attention online, sparking widespread debate about food safety and brand accountability.
The content creator later alleged that Bon Bread responded with a N50 million lawsuit, insisting she never directly mentioned the company or displayed its logo in her video.
In a follow-up post, she said, “Hello guys, you won’t believe what I’m holding in my hands. Bon Bread sent their solicitors to serve me this letter.”
“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.”
Responding to the situation, Abdulkadir explained in a video shared on the company’s Instagram page on Friday that the legal action followed unsuccessful attempts to reach the TikToker and clarify the claims.
She said the allegation had already begun affecting the company’s reputation and that efforts to contact the creator directly were not fruitful.
“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.
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“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.”
The entrepreneur insisted that Bon Bread products are freshly baked and not designed to last for extended periods without preservatives, adding that the company was wrongly being associated with the claim.
“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.”
“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 incident has continued to generate mixed reactions online. Some users questioned food safety standards in the baking industry, while others argued that the TikToker did not explicitly name any brand.
A Facebook user, Oluwatosin Ibitayo Badmus, advised consumers to be cautious about bread quality, noting possible changes in baking ingredients.
Another user, Gift Onyemenem, argued that the creator was careful not to mention any company name, while Nilla Ezumezu called for regulatory oversight, insisting that “no bread should last more than a week.”
On the legal angle, Bamigboye Olusola suggested the case may struggle since no brand was directly identified in the video.
However, Instagram user and lawyer Mvpbymrsjay noted that defamation could still be argued under “identification by implication” if viewers could reasonably link the content to a specific brand, adding that the outcome would depend on whether the statement is proven factual or merely opinion.
As of the time of filing this report, Bon Bread and relevant regulatory authorities have yet to issue any further official statements on the matter.