Canned over a tuna fish sandwich: Employers use any excuse (and the recession) to lay off workers

Anyone who has worked in food service knows that any day-old goods are up for grabs. I've heard of people feeding their whole families on leftovers brought home from work. And once it does go to the trash, it's often picked up by dumpster divers. And why not? Better to feed someone than let it go to waste.

Not according to Whole Foods. Ralph Reese, 57, of Queens, New York, set aside one tuna fish sandwich from 30 unsold ones, that he tossed into the trash. When a supervisor asked him why the sandwich was on the counter, Reese said he planned on eating it. The supervisor threw the sandwich in the trash and two days later Reese was fired for misconduct, meaning Reese couldn't apply for unemployment benefits.

Whole Foods cited lame company policy, that employees get 20% off food, and are encouraged to try samples, but that this must all be carefully monitored. When it comes down to it, trash is trash. And perhaps they should change their policy to send that "trash" to a homeless shelter, as many bakeries and eateries do around the city.