ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP) — A New York food service company says it has fired four employees after 25 students at a Massachusetts school were denied lunches this week because their prepaid accounts ran low.

Islandia-based Whitsons Culinary Group spokesman Todd Shapiro said Friday the company has "zero tolerance for any individual who leaves a child hungry."

The lunch decision had outraged parents, who said some students at Coelho Middle School in Attleboro cried after being told they couldn't eat.

Company officials said it was a violation of their policy and apologized.

Marketing vice president Holly Van Seggern says the company will give free lunches to all Coelho students for three days next week and host a barbeque for students and families later.