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I think food waste is awful. With so many people going hungry in this country! I read that it's not technically illegal to take it if it's not on private property. Apparently it is a civil matter which has no involvement with the police and has to be sorted between the company and the individual. I blame the EU for all the stupid laws they have set and think if we came out of the EU companies would have more freedom to decide what they do with their own food! I was shocked when I did my food hygiene at what this country can and cannot do. What I don't understand is that there are companies where I live who are legally allowed to sell out of date food bought directly from suppliers when they have surplus stock. It makes me think that these companies (supermarkets) are just being plain lazy and that there are loop holes if they just took the time to find them! I'm all for freeganism!
As far as the legal issues go - criminals can not legally profit from their crime. So if food is stolen from a waste bin and makes you ill you should not be able to get a penny if you sue. It would be different if the store had given you the food. For that reason I wouldn't think stores needed to go too far in security for their bins, the fact that it is in a bin might be enough. I'd probably label the bins RUBBISH for added protection.
