3 Wendy’s employees accused of serving food from trash, police say

Published: Jun. 23, 2026 at 1:01 PM CDT

UNION, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - Three Wendy’s employees in South Carolina are accused of spitting and serving food from the trash, according to authorities.

According to the Union Public Safety Department, 23-year-old Aaliyah Shuntai Sanders, 19-year-old Trinity Lashell Rice andd 33-year-old Shadela Crystal Holley were charged with tampering with a human drug product or food item following an incident at Wendy’s.

Trinity Lashell Rice (left), Aaliyah Shuntai Sanders (center), Shadella Holley (right)
Trinity Lashell Rice (left), Aaliyah Shuntai Sanders (center), Shadella Holley (right)(Union Public Safety)

On May 31, a customer ordered food from the Wendy’s drive-thru but had an issue with it and told staff. She asked for a refund after staff took the order back.

The victim told police that she asked for a receipt since she was not given one when she first ordered her food.

She was given food back after staff told her that they would remake the order, and she left the store. While leaving, she was eating the food she was given.

Someone from the store allegedly called the customer and told her that an employee had spat in the food and had removed it from the trash can.

The customer told police that when she looked, she found that the remade order was actually food from her previous order.

According to the reports, the victim called the store and spoke with the manager, who told her that he had spoken with employees and confirmed it. He also said he would review surveillance footage.

The general manager and the manager told the victim that Sanders and Rice were written up for this incident.