The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has launched an investigation into a viral bread review that raised concerns over product quality, following the arrest and N50 million lawsuit filed against the consumer who made the claims.
The commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying the agency acted promptly after the issue surfaced online.
“Those kinds of things raised certain red flags with us, and as soon as we got wind of it, our surveillance and investigation department and even our legal services were up to ensure that certain things happened,” he said.
The controversy began after a consumer, Love Doshima, posted a video claiming that a loaf of bread she bought remained fresh for over two months. The claim quickly went viral, sparking public concern about preservatives and food safety standards.
Ijagwu said the FCCPC intervened after the woman was allegedly arrested following a lawsuit filed by the baker.
“We also ensured that when we heard the person who was actually the consumer in question was being harassed and taken to the police, we ensured that the consumer got released,” he said.
The commission has also engaged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to analyze the bread sample referenced in the video.
“We facilitated with NAFDAC to take on board the sample that was referenced by that particular consumer for further analysis,” he added.
Ijagwu stressed that consumers have a legal right to express their experiences and seek redress without intimidation.
“The law ensures that consumers are provided with information and also guarantees them the right to be heard. If a consumer suffers anything, definitely the consumer has a right to make certain representations,” he said.
The case has since drawn attention to consumer rights and product accountability, with the FCCPC saying it is closely monitoring developments and will see the matter through.
