The blame is shared, but mostly with retailers.
I do work for a food retailer.

Some things have to be binned for safety because they spoil if you so much as look at them funny (eg. certain seafoods).

Others are binned to protect revenue (don't give things to people if you can force them to buy it instead, eg. old-style stock lines).

Others are binned because it would be inconvenient to process them. Resources (staff time / lorry fuel / warehouse space) spent processing such items, all hurts their bottom line.

And yes, some are just binned because managers aren't always that bright. There is a fear of liability and negative PR, and it's easier to say "chuck it" than to exercise judgement.

Naturally, it looks better to blame it all on H+S restrictions.
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Sun 26 Oct 2008, 19:33, 1 reply)

Still not sure that explains the whole "soak it with detergent so if tramps eat it they die" thing.

(Seance Trumpet has got no beef with a man enjoying a croissant, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:24, closed)