A mother, Rebecca Reeve, has come forward claiming that staff at a Greggs bakery branch in Thanet, Kent, violated equality laws by prohibiting her from breastfeeding her baby on the premises. The incident took place on February 16th when Rebecca, accompanied by her partner Jack Hinkley and their six-month-old son Alfie, visited the Westwood Cross Greggs outlet. Rebecca asserts that after purchasing food items totaling £16, she politely inquired about breastfeeding her baby inside the establishment. To her dismay, a male staff member informed her that it was against the store’s ‘company policy’ to breastfeed on the premises.
In the UK, breastfeeding in public is not only legal but also protected under the Equality Act 2010, making it unlawful to discriminate against individuals for breastfeeding or to ask them to stop or leave. Despite this legal protection, Rebecca claims that the Greggs staff suggested she either breastfeed her baby in a public toilet or on a bench outside in the cold. Feeling shocked and indignant at the response, Rebecca swiftly consumed their food and proceeded to Marks & Spencer where she was able to breastfeed Alfie without any issues.
Rebecca expressed her disappointment in the way she was treated at Greggs, stating that she felt her baby’s needs were disregarded and that she was left feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. Following the distressing encounter, Rebecca contacted her mother who lodged a complaint with the Greggs store. However, she alleges that even after raising the issue with the store, she was informed that breastfeeding was indeed prohibited under their policy. In light of these events, Rebecca stresses that the law protects her right to breastfeed in public and that Greggs’ actions constituted a breach of this legislation.
In response to the incident, Greggs issued a public statement expressing deep regret over the situation and assuring customers that breastfeeding is permitted in their establishments. The bakery chain has since worked to prevent similar occurrences in the future and extended a formal apology to Rebecca. Despite this apology, Rebecca remains disheartened by the experience, emphasising the added stress and vulnerability often experienced by new mothers. She contends that being directed to feed her child in a public toilet would have portrayed her in a negative light and undermined her role as a mother.
Rebecca plans to further address the matter by meeting with a regional branch manager and organizing a gathering with other mothers in front of the Greggs store to peacefully demonstrate their right to breastfeed in public. The aim of this gathering is to raise awareness and advocate for the respectful treatment of breastfeeding mothers in public spaces. As Rebecca and fellow mothers prepare to assert their rights, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to uphold the legal protections afforded to breastfeeding mothers across the UK.