SUNSET HILLS, Mo. – An apologetic Burger King is promising the "royal treatment" to a patron asked to leave because workers claimed her barefoot baby violated the company's "no shoes" rules.
The fast food giant admitted that employees went too far when they asked Jennifer Frederich, her mother and Frederich's 6-month-old daughter, Kaylin, to leave a Burger King in Sunset Hills, Mo., because Kaylin was shoeless.
Workers explained in the Sunday incident that the infant was violating a health code. In fact, shoelessness is not a health code violation in St. Louis County.
Burger King released a statement Thursday indicating workers had taken the no shoes, no service policy too far.
"Our franchisee, which independently owns and operates this restaurant, apologizes for this guest's experience," the statement reads. "The franchisee is retraining his restaurant team on the proper use of the 'no shoes' policy."
Click here for coverage from FOX's KTVI-TV.
The franchise owner also contacted Frederich to apologize in person.
Frederich told KTVI that she and her mother ate hurriedly and left before they could be kicked out.
She said the flap was a bit overblown, and she hoped no one would be fired. But she appreciates Burger King's apology.
The Missouri restaurant's owner asked Frederich to come back for "royal treatment," including free food, KTVI said.
Burger King, based in Miami, is the nation's second-largest hamburger chain, with 11,800 restaurants worldwide.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox