Three former cafeteria workers at Woodland Hills Junior High School have filed a federal lawsuit against the food-services contractor there, claiming age discrimination.

Laureen Ingelido, of Trafford, and Angela M. Ohodnicki, of Murrysville, allege that they were terminated by Nutrition Inc. because their health benefits were costly for the company.

Adele M. Perry, of Braddock Hills, is also named as a plaintiff.

All three began working for Nutrition Inc., of West Newton, in the late 1970s, and they all are in their 60s.

Ms. Ingelido worked as an assistant cook, Ms. Perry was a general food worker, and Ms. Ohodnicki was the kitchen manager.

According to the lawsuit, the women were terminated Oct.7 for allegedly violating the company's policy of removing objects from the cafeteria. The items included tin foil and six chicken nuggets.

"Any objects removed from the cafeteria by plaintiffs were either waste (such as the discarded foil) or of essentially no value," the lawsuit says.

They called the reasons for termination either "false or preposterous," and said younger workers regularly removed items from the cafeteria and were not disciplined.

The women are seeking damages as well as reinstatement.

Nutrition Inc. officials couldn't be reached.