Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of Bon Bread Maria Umeagwukadilo has responded to a viral TikTok video that questioned the safety of her company’s products after a claim that a loaf of bread remained fresh for about two months.
The video, posted by a TikTok user, did not name any brand, but some social media users linked it to Bon Bread based on appearance and packaging suggestions in the comment section.
In a response video shared on Friday, Umeagwukadilo said the claim has affected her business and that she attempted to reach the content creator for clarification.
“It pains me that after putting in 20 years of hard work, somebody on social media with a two-minute clip will cause so much damage,” she said.
She said she started Bon Bread in 2006 and built it into a business that now employs about 80 staff directly and more than 100 indirectly.
She said she also has two children and began the business during a period she described as difficult.
Umeagwukadilo said the company follows regulations set by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
She said Bon Bread produces based on orders and does not keep a large stock for sale.
“We produce bread by order, which means we produce every day only the bread that has been ordered,” she said.
She said she became aware of the video through calls from distributors and initially dismissed it before deciding to investigate.
According to her, she tried to contact the content creator to ask where the bread used in the video was purchased and how the claim was verified, but said she was unable to continue the conversation.
“I made a call to the lady… I wanted to understand where she got the bread from, but she cut the call on me,” she said.
Umeagwukadilo said she does not agree with claims that her product stayed fresh for two months and said food safety issues exist in the market, but denied the allegation linked to her brand.
She said she will publish regulatory documents and laboratory test results covering about 20 years of operations.
She also asked members of the public to test Bon Bread products themselves.
“I challenge anyone… whenever you see BON bread please buy it. Go and test it by yourself,” she said.
She said she consumes the product, as do her staff and family, and asked the content creator to provide evidence for the claim.
The TikTok video that triggered the controversy continues to circulate on social media, with discussions focused on food preservation and production practices in Nigeria’s baking industry.
