As Erick alluded to, it is usually more about perfectly good food still in the original packaging.

It has been some years ago but when a Giant store was taken over by a Grand Union they threw out all of the Giant brand merchandise. My Dad noticed and started salvaging it. He gave most of it away to struggling and lower income families, but used plenty of it himself. He figured that it would end once the change over was complete, but the waste continued at a decreased but still shocking level. Things like dented boxes, a case of shampoo where one bottle got cut when opening the case and shampoo got all over the other bottles, a dented flat of fruit where maybe 10% was ruined, seasonal or holiday stuff out of season, items where the packaging was slightly shop worn, and slightly out of date items.

My Dad was a fairly wealthy man, but but frugal and hated to see the waste. He repeatedly talked to the store manager unsuccessfully trying to get them to donate the stuff to some worthy charity.

My favorite part of the change from Giant to Grand Union was when they threw out all the ice cream and frozen yogurt of every brand and type. My Dad called me and I went over and filled the bed of my truck literally to the brim. We stocked our freezer and told the neighbor kids to tell their friends to come and get it. Kids swarmed in from everywhere.

In the interest of keeping this bike related, I'll mention that while it wasn't touring he did most of his "shopping" on a bike with a huge basket.