May 4, 2020
Many citizens of Mumbai shared concerns after a message started going viral asking people not to eat Wibs bread as one of its workers have tested positive for Covid-19 and the factory has been sealed by the authorities. Wibs is the largest supplier of bread in the Mumbai region.Why has Mumbai’s popular Wibs bread company been closed? Is it because one of its worker at the factory tested positive for coronavirus? Many citizens of Mumbai shared concerns after a message started going viral asking people not to eat Wibs bread as one of its workers have tested positive for Covid-19 and the factory has been sealed by the authorities.
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has investigated and found that the viral message is false and misleading. Actually, Wibs has four factories in Mumbai and near vicinities that bake its popular bread. The owners took timely decision and have shut one factory after a worker showed symptoms of coronavirus infection while other three factories are operational and functioning to its capacity.
Among others, Facebook users have posted a message, saying, “WIBS Bread Company is sealed. WIBS Bread workers are Covid-19 positive so don’t eat WIBS Bread.”
This message went viral on WhatsApp too and people took Twitter to enquire from authorities if the news is true or merely a rumour.
Wibs is evidently working and operational
To find the authenticity of the message, the authorities contacted Wibs factories. Navi Mumbai and Prabhadevi factories confirmed they are operational.
When contacted with one of the largest distributors of Wibs, P.S. Pandian, he said, “I have heard about these messages. As a distributor, I am in touch with the company and I know they have been taking all precautions. They regularly sanitize the premises and are taking care of their workers as well. I don’t know how these rumours have spread. The supply of bread is on as usual and has not reduced in any way.”
One factory in question shut
Wibs bakery is a family-run business which has four factories in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. In Mumbai itself, the factories are located at Andheri, Prabhadevi and Dockyard.
Upon reaching them, one of the owners of the company, Farokh Irani, said, “One of our workers at the Dockyard factory showed symptoms of coronavirus. While he was sent for tests, we have shut the factory on a precautionary note. We have sanitized the entire factory and are checking other workers as well. We are working with the municipal corporation too. The factory was not sealed, but we have closed it voluntarily.”
“Our other factories are operating normally and there has been no problem in those places,” Irani added.
Wibs company has also issued a statement saying, “The health and safety of our customers, our employees and the community at large is of utmost concern and importance to us at WIBS. The manufacturing of WIBS products is being undertaken in compliance with the orders and directives issued by the Government from time to time. We have implemented all the required guidelines and controls required of us at this time. We have also implemented heightened awareness and hygiene practices. Recent concerns raised about health and safety associated with the production and consumption of WIBS products are therefore unfounded.”
Therefore, it is clear that the viral claim of Wibs bread factory being sealed after a worker was found Covid-positive is misleading and FALSE. Wibs has four factories and has voluntarily shut one after a worker showed symptoms of COVID-19 infection. The other three factories are operating normally and baking its wonderful bread for Mumbaikars.