SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah school district is apologizing after 32 elementary students in Salt Lake City had their school lunches thrown out because money was owed on their food accounts.

The Salt Lake City School District says it was a mistake and officials are investigating.

The lunches costing $2 were taken from the children on Tuesday as they arrived at a pay station after cafeteria workers had given them the food.

Parent Erica Lukes said the action was humiliating and demoralizing for students.

District spokesman Jason Olsen said the move came after the district realized a lot of students at Uintah Elementary owed money for previous lunches.

Olsen says lunches were thrown out because they couldn’t be served to another student. Students whose lunches were taken away were given fruit and milk.