In the States, we actually do have many organizations that are doing just that: taking surplus and expired food from restaurants, stores and individual donors; and distributing it to soup kitchens, food banks and individuals in need.

Second Harvest is one of the largest, and is a national charity working in every state, but there are also a wealth of smaller local charities, many of which are based in churches, that are doing the same in their own communities.

Also, a lot of gardening groups have a program for vegetable gardeners to "plant a row for charity," with the vegetables usually going to local food banks, homeless shelters and nursing homes.

I know that such efforts exist in Europe as well, though not living there, I don't know as much about them.

There is still a lot of food wasted, which needs to stop, but more and more of it is actually going to help people in need.

And, quite frankly, We the People are FAR better at helping others than our government has EVER been, particularly with our current den of cretins in power. We have to help others in spite of our government, rather then with their help, as it should be.

Shameless cowards, the lot of them.