Yes I did read the story and if I were that parent I would be mad. I would also be shouting at the rooftops to the state, the schoolboard, and anyone else that had any part in this nonsense.
She had packed a turkey and cheese sandwich (protein, dairy, and grain), banana (fruit), apple juice (fruit)..depending on kind and content) and potato chips (snack). The only problems I can see with this would be the snack and maybe the fact that there was not a vegetable. The mother explained that easy enough....she packs according to what her daughter will eat. Her daughter doesn't care for vegetables so she has her eat them at home where she can be sure they are eaten. And who doesn't pack a snack for their child. Had the "state worker" simply told the child that she couldn't eat the chips until she ate the rest of the lunch I don't think there would have been a problem. Also, if the problem was the lack of vegetable, all they had to do was give the child a vegetable (how does that involve chicken nuggets? or a full meal?).
I get the idea of trying to get kids to eat healthier. I get telling parents the meals should be healthy and balanced. However, something in a child's belly is better than nothing at all. Even if the packed lunch was not as healthy as the school's lunch, if it isn't eaten what good did it do? Is it better to have a child skip lunch because they don't like what is packed or served? Now you have food and money wasted and a hungry child. That hungry child will have trouble performing well in the class room AND received little to no nourishment.
Parents are responsible for thier children and should be able to pack them the lunch they see fit. If a child were to consistantly come with just junk food, there is reason for concern but just because you don't approve of what I pack for my child does not mean you have the right to tell them they can't have it.
They didn't take the lunch away as in throwing it away but they did not let her eat it and sent it home with her. They didn't offer her an "alternative" and let her choose. She is a pre-k kid that did what the adult at the school instructed her to do. They are saying it was a mistake...fine, they happen but please explain what the rational was.