US cafeteria worker quits over ‘lunch shaming’ policy

A US cafeteria worker has quit after she was forced to refuse a primary school student a hot meal because his parents were behind in lunch payments.

Stacy Koltiska took to social media to inform parents of the new lunch policy being enforced by Wylandville Elementary School, Pennsylvania.

Under new rules, if parents fall more than US$25 (A$33) behind in lunch payments, their child can no longer receive a hot lunch.

Despite US law stating all children from kindergarten to Year Six “must be given a free lunch of a sandwich”, the school has reportedly continued to charge parents for “free” lunches.    

“They are being given one piece of cheese on bread. This isn't even being toasted,” Ms Koltiska wrote.

“Yet they are still being charged the full price of a hot lunch that is being denied to them.”

Ms Koltiska decided to quit her role at the school after she had to take a hot meal away from a boy whose parents had fallen behind in payments.

“His eyes welled up with tears. I'll never forget his name, the look on his face," she said.

“It comes down to profits over people but this time the people are our children”.

She urged readers to email the local school superintendent over the controversial policy.

The post has been shared by more than 6000 users on Facebook.