Ohio Mom Asked To Leave Pizza Hut For Breastfeeding

A Northwest Ohio woman alleges that she was asked to leave a Pizza Hut because she was breastfeeding her son, despite an Ohio law which protects her right to do so.

Page Martin and her husband were dining at a Pizza Hut when her 3-month-old son began to cry, reports Cleveland 19. In response, Martin began nursing her son and was shortly confronted by an employee. She recounts, "I was approached by an employee there who asked me if I could cover myself up with a blanket and I said 'no it's my right because he won't eat with a blanket over his head.'"

After refusing to cover her son with a blanket, the employee asked Martin to move to a private booth, "because we have some parents here who don't want to expose their children to that," quotes Martin. After her refusal, Martin alleges that she was asked by the employee to leave the restaurant.

According to Ohio law, a mother is entitled to breastfeed her child in any public place she is otherwise permitted. It is important to note, however, that there is no enforcement provision for this law.

Martin hopes her story will help to prevent similar situations from happening again. She says, "Stick up for yourself, stick up for your rights. I'm not just doing this for myself, I'm doing this for all breastfeeding mothers."

Pizza Hut tells WTOL, "Pizza Hut fully supports state law regarding a mother's right to breastfeed in our restaurants. While this customer was not asked to leave the restaurant, but rather offered another table with greater privacy, we deeply apologize that this situation in any way upset her or if she felt mistreated. We will take this as an opportunity to further train our employees."

The Daily Meal reached out to Pizza Hut, however the company was unavailable for immediate comment.