Utah cafeteria worker speaks out for first time about tossing lunches

SALT LAKE CITY—The cafeteria worker who took dozens of kids’ lunches at a Salt Lake City elementary school earlier this year is speaking out for the first time — and she says she’s been punished for merely trying to do what her bosses expected of her.

"Miss Shirley" as she’s known to kids at Uintah Elementary told The Salt Lake Tribune she trashed the lunches of kids with negative account balances, giving them milk and fruit instead because her boss was watching her that day. The Tribune agreed not to use Shirley’s last name because of threats that she said have been made against her.

The incident, at the end of January, made national news, drawing outrage from parents across the country.