By the way, Burger King’s Corporate Headquarters are located at:
5505 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, FL 33126
Feel free to send them a letter.
November 21, 2003
Re: nursing mothers
To Whom It May Concern:
I am appalled, outraged and extremely upset at your corporationÂ’s lack of an appropriate response to Kate Geary earlier this month. Utah state law allows for a woman to breastfeed her baby in public, whether her breast is covered or not. Not only did your press release give the wrong date of the incident, but your company didnÂ’t even bother to attempt to contact Mrs. Geary directly to find out what truly happened. Your PR department, concerned only with how your company looks, rather that the concerns of your customers, simply issued a blanket statement that minimalized the situation.
Apologizing for any “inconvenience” to all customers involved was a sad and weak attempt to right the wrong that took place. If another customer is uncomfortable with a mother breastfeeding her child, then that customer cannot watch, can move, or can leave the restaurant him or herself. Asking Mrs. Geary to nurse her child in the bathroom or leave (which is what happened) sends the message to all mothers everywhere that Burger King does not approve of a woman’s right to breastfeed her baby, regardless of the fact that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as the best way to nourish a child for at least the first year of that child’s life. It also sends the message that a public restroom is a proper place to feed a child. Until Burger King policy includes asking its employees to take their meal breaks in the bathroom, it is not appropriate to ask a customer to feed her child there.
Does your company really want to send a message to mothers that it is not concerned with the best quality of nutrition for children? I donÂ’t think so. Considering that well over half of the mothers in this country breastfeed their babies, does your company really want to send the message that Burger King doesnÂ’t care about nursing moms?
Your company’s mission statement includes the following sentence: “We value, honor and respect differences in our employees, customers, franchisees and suppliers.” This incident only shows that your company does not really believe or practice this mission statement, and that breastfeeding mothers are excluded from those you care about. Asking a mother to feed her child in the restroom does not exhibit any honor or respect.
Shame on you. Shame on you for belittling Mrs. Geary, and in doing so, belittling all breastfeeding mothers everywhere. Shame on you for not responding appropriately. You just lost customers – including me, my husband, and our children. I hope your company will exhibit more care and concern for your customers in the future.
Sincerely,
Kristen Rudd