[piasa]

Used to be, restaurants would give unwanted leftovers to the poor in nice civilized containers.

Then the fear of regulators and lawsuits forced restaurants to dispose of unwanted leftovers and so they had to turn people away.

Regulations and fear of lawsuits even causes restaurants to turn away people willing to buy discounted surplus leftovers for their livestock. I used to buy truckloads of expired bread and cookies and such for my animals but then was turned away for such a reason. Finally the bread store decided to do it again but everyone who gets it has to sign a release that it’s not going to be used for human consumption.

So then the dumpsters end up with some amazing stuff in them that attracts the frugal, poor or not.

[rockrr]

The business requiring the release understands the potential risk of liability. That’s why increasing numbers of business are locking their dumpsters - to limit the risk.

[nickcarraway]

What kind of livestock are you feeding it to?

[Calvin Locke]

There were stories, maybe 20 years ago, that grocery stores were annoyed at the garbage pickers for making messes around the dumpsters, so they would dump bleach each night over contents in the dumpsters.

That set off the SJWs that didn't have to deal with the messes left by their bums.

[neverevergiveup]

“Used to be, restaurants would give unwanted leftovers to the poor in nice civilized containers. Then the fear of regulators and lawsuits forced restaurants to dispose of unwanted leftovers and so they had to turn people away.”

Yep. I inquired about this at a bakery chain that advertised that their baked goods were always baked on the day of sale. I asked what they did with unsold bakery items at the end of the day, and they said they dumped them. It seemed like such a waste, and I asked why they didn’t just give it away to nursing homes, shelters, etc., and they said exactly what you point out - that they can’t do it for risk of liability.

[21twelve]

“Regulations and fear of lawsuits...”

My Conservative, but big-hearted daughter was just lamenting on all of the waste from restaurants, etc. (She works at them).

I told her what you just said - they used to do it, but not anymore. Even if it was fresh out of the oven, all it would take is one guy putting it away in his grocery cart of his life’s belongings and then eat it three days later and get sick. And then sue.