the problem is that they don't can...i know you are right, only because the date of a product is over, doesn't mean that it's good anymore

Well what about salad bars where the food is fresh every day? The store wants to put out fresh food that is why they toss the other food. Surely there is no liability on those because they are fresh every day and I would be purchasing it an hour sooner..

Really? Then why do so many remain poor and starve under socialist regimes?

No, the problem is government, whether federal or local. Too many laws and regulations preventing companies from doing so. Even schools are not allowed to donate their food at the end of the day. Another concern is being sued. Sure, there may be so-called laws that protect companies, but that doesn't mean a judge will err on the side of those laws, even though that's supposed to be their job. Even if the company eventually wins through appeal, it could cost them thousands per case in attorney fees. That's what sadly has resulted in this settlement society. Even if they plaintiff is in the wrong, it'll cost the company less just to pay them something to make them go away. 

I don't know about food specifically, but I've seen supplier side restrictions on other products.
"We sell you (the store) our product at this price but you can't do anything to that could potentially devalue our product or brand without our consent."

So hypothetical scenario would be that you can't do a buy 1 get 4 deal on an iphone cause that implies the value of the iphone is really 20% of the price.

Businesses have become pretty good at efficiency. So if there is leftover, they donate it or throw it. Getting rid of it would be very little cost since they became so efficient at it, while donating often costs a lot more than ordering slightly more just to throw it away.

That's not true, actually.  Many chain grocery stores donate tons of food to charity.  The one I worked at donated about a pallet of canned and packaged food a month to the local food bank.  They also gave away entire pallets of water after the last hurricane.

The reality is, donating new canned and packaged food is cheaper and more practical from a logistical perspective.  

However, I do know that some grocery stores do donate damaged bags of pet food to animal shelters.

Of course food has to be paid for; seeds don't plant themselves, crops don't harvest themselves, food doesn't just fly to our local store shelves on their own. These things take labor and that labor has to be paid for.

I’m not sure but I’ll give you an example. When I was 16 (20 years ago) I was an Assistant Manager at Burger King. One night I was closing up with the general manager and after I counted the inventory I bagged up the leftover food and was ready to take it him. The manager looks at me and says, “What are you doing with that waste?” I said I’m taking it home because there’s no reason for good food to go to waste. He stated that we have to throw it away because if we were allowed to take home leftovers then people would probably always make leftovers so they can get free food. Basically it came down to cost. I think that’s why we do it the way we do.

Except there are laws that do hinder or prevent it. It's different in every state/county/city. Some allow donating expired food, if it is still good, while others ban it outright. Some have regulations on what can be donated and/or how it's handled. It all adds up to extra time/manpower/cost that just becomes too much of a hassle to some companies.

It doesn't really matter if no one has sued, yet. In this sue happy time, it only takes the threat of one for people to not even bother. And you get a judge who often sides with the "underdog" even if they are in the wrong. Of course, the key word there was public record. Who knows what lies within any that were sealed.

As for your first comment, yes, greed can lead to others starving. However, that is a human condition that has nothing to do with capatilism. If anything, it is capatilism that has raised so many out of poverty and starvation. And with so many doing so well, it is easier to find those who have the means to donate to those less fortunate.

In socialist societies, it is not the lack of incentive that leads to starvation, but a central government or dictator who oppressed their/his/her people to remain in power. Often their greed and poor policies are what leads to a lack of resources and/or food. 

“Best before” and “Expires on” aren’t the same thing though. “Best before” on biscuits doesn’t mean much. But don’t you dare drink milk after it’s “Expires on” date. I’ve made that mistake by accident.