In South Africa, the well-known bread brand Sasko has recently found itself at the center of controversy, with social media users speculating whether the company is being “sabotaged.” A series of viral videos and posts have brought attention to unsettling discoveries involving the popular product, sparking concerns and raising questions about the brand’s quality control.
The latest in the string of incidents occurred when TikTok user Lebohang Matela shared a clip revealing a bizarre loaf of bread she had purchased. The video, which quickly went viral, showed that the loaf contained a strange mixture of both white and brown slices of bread. The post left many TikTok users confused and amused, with some jokingly referring to it as a “GNU collaboration” or calling it a product for the “rainbow nation,” given its unusual appearance.
This odd loaf incident follows a string of more disturbing reports involving Sasko Bread. Just weeks ago, two separate consumers from Johannesburg and Durban allegedly discovered dead rats in their Sasko loaves, triggering a flood of complaints on social media. These shocking discoveries have led to serious concerns about the safety and hygiene of the products, and Sasko has been under fire for its handling of the situation.
### Rats and Bread: A Troubling Pattern?
The recent complaints involving dead rodents in Sasko Bread have caused widespread public outcry. In one of the most high-profile cases, a woman from Johannesburg reported finding a dead rat in her bread, an incident that led to widespread outrage. Shortly after, a similar incident was reported by a woman in Durban, who claimed to have found the remnants of a rodent in her loaf.
In response to these claims, Sasko – which operates under Pioneer Foods – has denied reports that they recalled nearly 200,000 loaves of bread as a result of the incidents. However, the company did acknowledge the complaints and assured customers that they had launched an internal investigation to get to the bottom of the issue. Sasko also temporarily halted production at the affected facilities while they conducted their investigation to ensure the problem was resolved.
This isn’t the first time that Sasko has been accused of selling tainted products. Back in 2020, another social media user, known as @GhettoSoldeir on X (formerly Twitter), claimed to have found a dead rat in their bread. Despite raising the issue at the time, the user alleged that Sasko ignored their complaint. This week, the same user resurfaced the old post, adding to the growing skepticism surrounding the bread giant’s quality control.
### Is Sasko Being Sabotaged?
As the controversy around Sasko bread continues to grow, some social media users are speculating that the company might be the victim of sabotage. Several commenters on social media have suggested that these incidents may not be accidental, with many pointing to the timing of the recent complaints.
One user, @vamzo, questioned, “What is happening at Sasko?” while another, @nobs, speculated, “I think there is one unhappy employee there.” Others have echoed this sentiment, with @nonto claiming, “I think someone is trying to sabotage them.”
While there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, the idea of sabotage has gained traction online, as consumers grapple with the unsettling incidents involving the brand.
### Sasko’s Response and Next Steps
Amid the growing concerns, Sasko has pledged to take the complaints seriously and has reassured customers that their safety is a top priority. The company has committed to a thorough investigation of its production processes and is working to ensure that any potential risks are addressed.
As South Africans continue to debate the cause of these unsettling discoveries, one thing is clear: Sasko Bread will need to act swiftly and transparently if it hopes to restore public trust in its products.
For now, consumers remain divided, with some giving Sasko the benefit of the doubt, while others are calling for a complete boycott until the matter is fully resolved. Only time will tell if Sasko can recover from this damaging wave of negative publicity.