FOOD WASTE.

A few years ago, I was at a coffee shop -- Starbucks? Diedrichs? -- while they were closing up. The clerk offered to give me any leftover pastries I wanted. I suggested they just give them to the homeless or something instead. Can't, she said. Company policy. We could be held legally liable if they get sick.

That, I always thought, was why few restaurants donate their leftover food, and why some ...