Burger King apologizes to breast-feeding mom

[DRMIZER]

Wednesday, November 12, 2003 Posted: 8:59 PM EST (0159 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/11/12/breastfeeding.apology.ap/index.html

OREM, Utah (AP) -- Burger King has served up a plain apology to a woman who said she was ordered by a franchise employee to stop breast-feeding her baby in the fast-food restaurant's dining room or leave.

Kate Geary said she was made to "feel like a criminal" for breast-feeding her baby girl Monday and asked the burger chain for an apology.

Miami-based Burger King Corp. issued a generic apology in a prepared release Tuesday.

"Burger King Corporation and our franchisee apologize for any inconvenience any of our guests experienced at our restaurant on November 10, 2003," the release said.

The company said its employee was simply responding to the request of another customer who was uncomfortable with Geary breast-feeding at the eatery. Geary was never asked to leave the restaurant, the statement said.

"The general manager sent a female employee to speak with the woman and asked that she either cover herself or move to the ladies room," the company said in a prepared release. Geary contends she was fully covered.

The restaurant , about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, does not have a policy on breast-feeding.

Utah state law says a woman has a right to breast-feed anywhere.

[KWJams]

"The general manager sent a female employee to speak with the woman and asked that she either cover herself or move to the ladies room,"

There has to be more to the story than that.

If the woman was in a public place and not showing any courtesy to cover up then it was the appropriate step to ask her to comply with the wishes of other patrons.

What if the issue was smoking instead of breast feeding?

[stjohn]

I don't think second hand breast milk can cause lung cancer.....

[KWJams]

Key word=courtesy

That was the point I was trying to make

[stjohn]

Does the sight of a womans breast offend or frighten you?

[KWJams]

Not at all. I do not have a problem with the lady breast feeding in public.
My wife always went and sat by herself somewhere out of courtesy and used a small blanket to cover herself from the leering eyes of freaks.

How about diapers, should a lady be able to toss the kid on a restaurant table and change the diaper? It is a natural act as well.

[stjohn]

There is a difference between eating and defacation, though most politicians would not realize that.

Perhaps her act was a violation of BK policy, that only food purchased at BK could be consumed at BK, which in that case it would make sense from a legal standpoint.

[DRMIZER]

StJohn, you took my point. Maybe they didn't want a line at the milk bar.:lol: