September twenty twenty nineteen. A one-minute video spread across Facebook in the Philippines. More than forty-five thousand shares before it was taken down. The clip showed a delivery driver, his back to the camera, pulling bread packets from crates in a truck. He opened packets, removed slices, resealed them with the same twist cable he held between his teeth. The action was misconstrued as spitting on the bread.
False claims followed. A Hindi caption accused a Muslim man of trying to spread coronavirus by spitting on slices. The video was six months old. It had nothing to do with Malaysia. Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sendirian Berhad said the video was not taken in Malaysia and the case had been resolved months earlier by Gardenia Philippines – a totally different management and operations.
Gardenia Philippines investigated immediately. The salesman was dealing with stocks scheduled for disposal, not fresh stocks for delivery. As part of the company’s freshness policy, unsold breads are pulled from stores and replaced with fresh stocks every day of delivery. Unfortunately, in this isolated case, the delivery man took out bread slices from pulled-out loaves for his personal use. A violation of company rules and procedures. The personnel involved underwent administrative due process.
BOOM fact-checked the video in April twenty twenty. Reverse image search found the same video uploaded on YouTube around September twenty nineteen. Philnews.PH reported it was recorded in the Philippines on September twenty twenty. A Gardenia Bakeries deliveryman caught on camera tampering with bread packets – stealing slices, the report said. The logo on the man’s shirt matched Gardenia Philippines. The company clarified the slices were from pulled-out loaves from stores meant for disposal. Not from fresh stocks.
Gardenia Malaysia reiterated its commitment to quality products and service through continuous innovation, maintaining customer satisfaction, efficient distribution, and proper employee training on sales operations, including proper product handling. The company encouraged Malaysian citizens to stop the spread of misinformation and share the official statement instead. Open for public comments or suggestions at [email protected].
For communities across the region, the episode is a reminder: old videos resurface with new false narratives. What it means for people is that verification matters before sharing. The bread was for disposal. The man was stealing, not spitting. The communal angle was invented.
Sources
- False: Video Shows Muslim Man Spitting On Bread To Spread Coronavirus | BOOM
- Loaves in viral video for disposal, Gardenia says | GMA News Online
