GB2575865A

GB2575865A - Packaging for frozen food items

Info

Publication number: GB2575865A
Application number: GB1812242.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Platts Colin; Dawn Giles Tracie
Original assignee: YOUNGS SEAFOOD Ltd
Current assignee: YOUNGS SEAFOOD Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-27
Filing date: 2018-07-27
Publication date: 2020-01-29
Also published as: GB202100523D0; WO2020021242A1; GB2590231A; GB201812242D0

Abstract

A tray has inclined side walls 12. A transparent film is adhered to the side walls by suction to seal food within it. Ideally the food comprises frozen fish or seafood and another item. The walls could have an upper section 12b inclined at 92-98 degrees to the base and a lower section 12a angled at 140-150 degrees to the base. The regions could be separated by a step and the surface area 19 of the lower section could be twice that of the upper section. The side walls including their upper and lower edges could be convex, bulging out from the tray’s interior so that their intersection with a horizontal plane would be curved. Denesting flanges 16 could provided at the rims 13 corners. The tray and film could be polypropylene with a 0.7-0.8mm thick base and/or side walls and a 0.095-0.105mm thick film. A card sleeve 24 can surround the tray with a tab to engage its rim and a double thickness portion 25 over the mouth. During application the film can be heated, allowed to fall under gravity, adhered to the tray by the creation of a partial vacuum there between, and then trimmed adjacent the rim.

Description

-1Packaging for frozen food items

Field of invention

The present invention relates to packaging for frozen food items and in particular although not exclusively to packaging configured to facilitate a skin packing process in which frozen food items are sealed within a cavity and between a tray and a flexible film under suction via creation of a partial vacuum within the cavity whilst the food items are maintained frozen.

Background art

To preserve freshness and quality of food items, it is conventional to package food within suitable packaging for onward transport, storage, display and purchase by a consumer for example at a shop or supermarket. Where the food items are subject to spoiling within relatively short time periods, of the order of a day or two, it is conventional to freeze the items within their packaging during transport, when on display and generally during storage by the consumer prior to consumption. The producers of such packaged frozen

-2food items may recommend the food is defrosted prior to cooking or may be cooked directly from the frozen state.

A variety of different packaging methods have emerged to appropriately contain and seal the food items to provide physical protection from bacteria, oxygen, water, dust etc. Meat, fish and seafood items may be packaged and sealed within flexible packaging such as polymer bags or within trays that are in turn sealed by a polymer film. Within the tray and film sealing field, a variety of different types of package have immerged including atmospheric sealed trays, gas flushed trays, hermetic shrink packages, skin packages, or skin deep packages. Such systems differ in the way the food items sits within or on the tray and is physically separated, contacted partially or contacted fully by the enveloping film. Typically, within skin packing, suction is applied to the region between the film and the tray so as to skin-pack the film onto the food item where the film is sealed to exclude as much air as possible within the package until the package is opened at the point of consumption.

Conventionally, fish, seafood and meat food items are frozen immediately after their skin packaging to preserve freshness and produce quality. However, the non-frozen food items according to conventional skin packaging processes are susceptible to degradation prior to and during the packaging process when they are in a non-frozen state. Accordingly, freshness and quality of the end product is limited by current packaging methods. Accordingly, what is required is a packaging for food items that is beneficial over existing arrangements.

Summary of the Invention

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a package for packaging food items and in particular fish and seafood items to preserve freshness and quality during packaging and subsequent onward transport, display and storage prior to consumption.

ft is a further specific objective to provide a package to contain frozen food items including in particular fish and seafood items that is configured to allow the food items to be

-3packaged whilst frozen. It is a yet further objective to provide a packaging system including a tray and film to enable the packaging of frozen fish and seafood items according to a skin packaging method in which food items are positioned and sealed within a tray by adhering a polymer film to regions of the tray and the food items under suction.

The objectives are achieved by providing a food item packaging that comprises a tray having a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base with each sidewall provided at an inclined angle and configured to receive and adhere a film via a skin-pack packaging method in which a partial vacuum is created between the film and the tray and the food items via suction. The sidewalls of the tray define a cavity into which the frozen food items are positioned during packaging. The inventors have identified that the inclination of the sidewalls is important to control the mechanism by which the film is brought into contact with the food items and is subsequently adhered to the tray and food items via suction. That is, the present packaging is specifically adapted to minimise and in particular to eliminate the risks of the heated film breaking, splitting, tearing or otherwise rupturing as it is brought into contact with the frozen food items. The present packaging is adapted specifically for the skin packing of frozen food items in which a film is skin packed over and about the food items that are contained within a cavity defined by the tray.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a package for packaging food items comprising: a tray having a base, sidewalls extending upwardly from the base at an inclined angle relative to the base and a peripheral rim extending along the sidewalls at an opposite end to the base; the base having a contact face and the sidewalls each having a respective inward facing face that together define a cavity within the tray; a plurality of different food items seated on the contact face within the cavity; and a transparent film adhered under suction to each inward face of the sidewalls and the food items.

Optionally, from a position within the cavity, the sidewalls are inclined upwardly from the base at an angle in the range 125° to 160°, 130° to 155°, 135° to 155°, 140° to 150°, 142° to 148° or 144° to 148° relative to the base. Such an arrangement is advantageous to provide suitably inclined surfaces for adhesion of the softened film. In particular, the appropriately

-4inclined surfaces allow the film to seat appropriately at the peripheral region around the frozen food to hold the film at the appropriate orientation under suction and to enable the film to conform as the desired contours of the frozen food. Importantly, the sidewalls are configured so as to prevent the film stretching and diving into the deep contours of the frozen food that may otherwise result in film breakage or rupture.

Preferably, each of the sidewalls comprises a step in a direction between the base and the rim and defined by a change in the angle by which each of the sidewalls extends relative to the base. The step within the walls is advantageous to prevent food items from escaping from the cavity during packaging and in particular from preventing the transport of food items out of the cavity during packaging. Such a step is particularly beneficial to prevent the loss or outward transport from within the cavity of small food items such as rice.

Preferably, from a position within the cavity, in the direction between the base and the rim, a part of each sidewall closest to the rim is orientated at an angle in the range 75° to 100°, 80° to 100°, 90° to 100°, 92° to 98° or 94° to 96° relative to the base. Preferably, the upper portion of each sidewall is provided with an inclination so as to be inclined outwardly beyond vertical. This outward incline (overhang) configuration facilitates de-nesting of the trays from a tray stack when loading into packaging apparatus.

Preferably, in the direction between the base and the rim, the inward facing face at a part of each of the sidewalls closest to the base comprises a greater surface area than that of a part closest to the rim. More preferably, the surface area of the face of the part closest to the base is at least double the surface area of the part closest to the rim. The low portion of the sidewalls is particularly configured for optimised adhesion of the softened film during and after the application of suction so as to provide an appropriate surface area for film anchorage as tension is applied due to the suction forces. The surface area is also dimensioned to provide sufficient size to accommodate different frozen food items and to allow the food items to sit against the sidewalls and in particular the inward facing face at lower portion of the side walls.

-5Optionally, in a lengthwise direction of each sidewall, each sidewall is convex in the outward direction from the cavity. The convex configuration is advantageous to increase the volume of the internal cavity within the tray and to strengthen the sidewalls and the rim against bending and twisting forces imparted by the secured and tensioned flexible film.

Optionally, the package further comprises a plurality of de-nest flanges projecting outwardly and downwardly at the sidewalls and/or an underside of the rim. Optionally, denest flanges are positioned at corners of the sidewalls immediately under the rim. Such flanges are advantageous to facilitate separation of the trays from a stack of trays for loading into/onto packaging apparatus.

Preferably, in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, a lengthwise and/or widthwise edge or side of the perimeter of the base from which the side walls extend is curved or angled outwardly in a direction away from a central region of the base. The curved, convex or angled orientation of the perimeter of the base is further beneficial to strengthen the tray and to increase the volume of the internal cavity and prevent food loss from the tray during packaging and to appropriately accommodate the frozen food items.

Optionally, in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, a radius of curvature applied to the lengthwise extending perimeter sides/edges of the base is in the range 150-1000 mm, 200-300 mm, 300-400 mm, 200-400 mm, 800-900 mm or 900-1000 mm. The extent of such curvature may depend on the lengthwise and widthwise dimensions of the tray.

Optionally, in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, a radius of a curvature applied to the width wise extending perimeter sides/edges of the base is in the range 20-600 mm, 20-100 mm, 100-200 mm, 300-500 mm or 400-600 mm. The extent of such curvature may depend on the lengthwise and widthwise dimensions of the tray.

Preferably, in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, the rim at each sidewall is curved or angled outwardly from a central region of the cavity such that the tray at the rim is bowed outwardly relative to the central region of the cavity. Preferably, the rim is curved or angled outwardly in a direction away from a central region of the tray in the

-6lengthwise and/or width wise directions. The curved, convex or angled orientation of the rim is beneficial to strengthen the tray and to increase the volume of the internal cavity.

Optionally, in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, a radius of curvature applied to the lengthwise extending rim is in the range 300-1000 mm, 300-500 mm, 500-600 mm, 600-800 mm, 800-900 mm or 900-1000 mm.. The extent of such curvature may depend on the lengthwise and widthwise dimensions of the tray.

Optionally, in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, a radius of curvature applied to the widthwise extending rim is in the range 100-700 mm, 100-200 mm, 200-400 mm or 500-600 mm. The extent of such curvature may depend on the lengthwise and widthwise dimensions of the tray.

Optionally, the tray may comprise a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. Optionally, the tray may comprise any type of thermoplastic material including for example acetates, polyalkylenes, vinylalcohols as will be appreciated. Optionally, the tray may comprise a coating. Optionally, a thickness of the base and/or the sidewalls is in a range 400 to 900 pm, 500 to 800 pm, 600 to 800 pm or 700 to 800 pm.

Optionally, the film may comprise polypropylene. Optionally, the film may comprise any type of thermoplastic material including for example acetates, polyalkylenes, vinylalcohols as will be appreciated. Optionally, the film may comprise a coating. Optionally, a thickness of the film is in a range 80 to 120 pm, 90 to 110 pm or 95 to 105 pm. Such thickness configurations are beneficial to allow the film to deform and to conform to the profiling at the frozen food items and at the junction between the frozen food items and the inward facing face of the sidewalls. Importantly, the present packaging is adapted to secure the food items in fixed position within the tray and prevent movement.

The subject packaging is particularly advantageous to package frozen food items with the items being frozen prior to, during and post packaging.

Optionally, the package may further comprise a sleeve at least partially surrounding the tray externally of the cavity, the sleeve having a tab to releasably engage the rim for

-7securement to the tray. Optionally, the sleeve may comprise card having regions of single thickness and at least one region of double thickness, the region of double thickness suspended over a mouth of a cavity at the region of the rim opposed to the base, the sleeve at least partially concealing the base, the sidewalls, the rim and the food items.

Preferably, the film is adhered under suction to the sidewalls and the food items by applying a partial vacuum to a region between the film and the sidewalls and the food items whilst the food items are frozen.

Optionally, the different types of food items include fish, seafood, vegetables, carbohydrate, deshelled seafood, shell containing seafood. Optionally, a mass of the fish or seafood is in a range lOg to 300g, 20g to 200g, 40g to 200g, 80g to 120g. The relative size of the fish or seafood is advantageous during cooking prior to consumption so as to release the appropriate volumes of moisture to provide a steam cooking process. Accordingly, the freshness and quality of the produce is enhanced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging food items within a package as claimed herein comprising: laying the film over the tray for contact with the sidewalls and the food items whilst the food items are frozen; and applying a partial vacuum to a region between the film and the sidewalls and the food items to adhere the film under suction to the sidewalls and the food items.

Optionally, the method further comprises the step of trimming the film at the region of the rim by removing excess film. Optionally, the step of laying the film on the tray comprises heating the film and allowing the film to fall onto the tray whilst the film is heated and the food items maintained in the frozen state.

Brief description of drawings

A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

-8Figure 1 is a plan view of a tray part of a packaging according to a specific implementation of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tray of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the tray of figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through A - A of figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sleeve to receive at least a part of the tray of figures 1 to 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tray of figures 1 to 4 at least partially accommodated within the sleeve of figure 5;

Figure 7 is a rear view of the sleeve of figure 5 illustrating a retaining tab to releasably engage a rim part of the tray according to a specific implementation of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a cross section through A - A of the tray of figure 3 having food items positioned within a cavity of the tray and covered by a film according to a specific implantation of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment of the invention

Referring to figures 1 to 3, food packaging apparatus comprises a tray 10 formed from plastic material. Tray 10 comprises a base 11 from which extend upwardly and outwardly a set of sidewalls 12. The sidewalls 12 extend along a length and a width of tray 10 between a perimeter 15 of base 11 and an uppermost peripheral rim 13. Accordingly, each of the sidewalls 12 extends from the plane of base 11 from perimeter 15 to a junction 14 with rim 13. Base 11 is generally planar and comprises a generally rectangular shape profile.

-9According to the specific implementation, the lengthwise and widthwise sides of perimeter 15 are aligned non-parallel with one another and in particular are curved so as to be slightly convex in a direction outwardly from a centre of base 11. Similarly, rim 13, extending in the lengthwise and widthwise direction at tray 10, comprises lengthwise and widthwise extending portions that are aligned non-parallel with one another being curved and in particular convex outwardly from the central region of base 11. Such a configuration is advantageous to pre-tension rim 13, sidewalls 12 and/or base 11 against pulling forces directed inwardly towards the centre of base 11 such that tray 10 is resistant to deformation, bending and twisting in response to such pulling forces.

Referring specifically to figures 2 and 3, each of the sidewalls 12, extending in the lengthwise and widthwise direction of tray 10, are divided in a direction between base 11 and rim 13 by a step transition indicated generally by reference 18. In particular, a lower portion 12a of each sidewall 12, closest to base 11, is differentiated from an upper portion 12b (of sidewall 12) closest to rim 13 in a vertical plane aligned perpendicular to base 11 and in the direction between base 11 and rim 13. Accordingly, an inward facing face 19 of sidewalls 12 at lower sidewall portion 12a is provided at a first angled orientation relative to base 11 whilst the corresponding face 19 of upper sidewall portion 12b is orientated at a second angle relative to base 11. Upper sidewall portion 12b is orientated at a steeper angle relative to lower sidewall portion 12a with upper sidewall portion 12b being closer to vertical relative to base 11 (with base 11 positioned on a horizontal flat surface). Base 11 comprises a contact face 20 being upward facing and adjacent face 19 of sidewalls 12. Faces 19, 20 define an internal cavity of tray 10 to support and contain food items as illustrated and defined relative to figure 8.

According to the specific implementation, a surface area of face 19 at lower sidewall portion 12a is greater than the corresponding surface area of face 19 at sidewall upper portion 12b along sidewalls 12 extending in both the lengthwise and widthwise direction at tray 10. In particular, the surface area of upper wall portion 12b is approximately half that of lower sidewall portion 12a.

-10The lengthwise and widthwise extending sidewalls 12 transition into one another via curved corners 40 extending upwardly between base perimeter 15 and junction 14 with rim 13. Similarly rim 13 in the lengthwise and widthwise directions transition into one another via rounded/curved rim corners 17 positioned immediately adjacent and above wall corners 40. A plurality of de-nest flanges 16 are provided immediately under rim 13 at an external side of tray internal cavity 33 (illustrated in figures 4 and 8). Each flange 16 extends between each widthwise and lengthwise extending sidewall 12 immediately below rim 13 at an uppermost end of each respective corner 40. Flanges 16 assists with de-nesting of individual trays 10 from a tray stack that are inter-fitted with bases 11, sidewalls 12 and rims 13 positioned in close or near touching contact with one another.

Referring to figures 3 and 4, an angle 0 by which sidewalls 12 extend relative to base 11 is in a range 140° to 150°. That is, each face 19 at lower sidewall portion 12a is inclined upwardly from base face 20 at an angle 140 to 150°. Additionally, an angle a by which upper sidewall portion 12b extends relative to base 11 is in a range 92 to 98° being the angle defined between base face 20 and sidewall face 19 (at upper sidewall portion 12b).

Referring to figures 5 and 6, the present packaging apparatus further comprises a sleeve 21 having a first part 22 adapted to at least partially receive and house tray 10 and a second part 23 for positioning externally and directly underneath base 11 at an opposite side to contact face 20. Part 23 is dimensioned so as to be approximately rectangular (and in particular approximately square) so as to sit immediately below base 11 and within base perimeter 15. First part 22, referring to figure 7, comprises a base 31, sidewalls 32, a rear wall 29 and a roof having first and second portions 24, 25. A tab 26 extends from roof second portion 25 so as to be suspended directly over cavity 33 and base contact face 20. Roof portions 24, 25 extend from the region of rim 13 to represent a roof covering a portion of tray cavity 33.

According to the specific implementation, sleeve 21 is formed from a single sheet of card that is folded via pre-formed indentations or scoring to define a three dimensional box-like sleeve wherein base 31, sidewalls 32, rear wall 29 and roof 24, 25 define an internal chamber 27 to receive a part of tray 10. Roof second portion 25 comprises a double

-11thickness of sleeve material (card) relative to roof second portion 24. Such reinforcement is advantageous to increase the structural integrity of sleeve 21 and to provide a reinforced region to be grasped by the fingers and thumb of a consumer optionally via projective tab

26. Sleeve 21 is releasably attachable and lockable to tray 10 via a folded or bent tab 28 provided at the rear wall 29 of sleeve 21. Tab 28 extends between and is defined by a cutout section 30 at rear wall 29 and is designed to friction inter-fit with a region of rim 13. According to the specific implementation, rim 13 comprises an under cut into which tab 28 is capable of seating to prevent separation of tray 10 from mounting within sleeve chamber

27.

According to further specific implementations, sidewalls 20 may also be curved in their widthwise direction between base 11 and rim 13. In particular, sidewalls 12 may be concave so as to bow outwardly from a central region of base 11. Such curvature may also provide a contribution to the bending and twisting resistance of sidewalls 12 in addition to increasing the volume of tray cavity 33.

Referring to figure 8, internal cavity 33 is capable of supporting a plurality of different food items 34, 35, 36, 37. The present packaging apparatus is particularly adapted to accommodate frozen food items including in particular frozen fish 34, a butter pellet 37 (mounted on fish 34), vegetables 35 (for example beans and carrots) and a source of carbohydrate such as potatoes 36. All food items 34, 35, 36, 37 are provided and maintained in a frozen state when supported on base contact face 20 and a part of the inward facing face 19 of sidewall lower portion 12a. The present apparatus further comprises a thin flexible thermoplastic film 38 adapted for adhesion to an upper surface 41 of rim 13, sidewall face 19 and respective exposed surface regions of food items 34 to 37. In particular, the present apparatus comprising tray 10 and sleeve 38 is adapted specifically for the skin packing of film 38 onto tray 10 and food items 34 to 37 via a process referred to as skin packing’’ whilst food items 34 to 37 are frozen (both immediately prior to and during the skin packing process). Within such a process, thermoplastic film 38 is heated to a temperature suitable to soften film 38 which is suspended immediately above tray 10 containing food items 34 to 37 in their frozen state. Film 38 is allowed to fall under gravity and to contact tray 10 (including rim surface 31 and sidewall faces 19) and to

-12contact food items 34 to 37. A cutter/press is then brought into contact with rim 13 to trim film 38 at the perimeter of rim 13. Importantly, whilst film 38 is brought into contact with tray 10 and food items 34 to 37, a suction is applied to the region between film 38 and food items 34 to 37 whilst items 34 to 37 remain frozen. In particular, at least one suction pump (not shown) is engaged to achieve a pre-determined partial vacuum pressure in the region between film 38 and tray 10 to minimise the risks of film 38 breaking, cracking, splitting, perforating or otherwise rupturing as might be encountered when a heated thermoplastic film 38 (at an approximate temperature approaching 120 or 150°C) is brought into direct contact with frozen food items 34 to 37 maintained at a temperature of approximately -5°C.

In particular, the pressure of the partial vacuum may be in the range 3.0 to 30 kPa or more preferably 9.0 to 20 kPa. This level of partial vacuum is advantageous to control the mechanism by which film 38 is brought into contact with the sidewall faces 19 and frozen food items 34 to 37 and to avoid rupture of film 38.

The surface area of face 19 at lower sidewall portion 12a and in particular the orientation of each face 19 at each sidewall 12a is configured specifically to provide appropriate seating of film 38 to adhere film 38 to each face 19 and at the same time allow the film 38 to drape over and to be drawn against food items 34 to 37 without film 38 deforming appreciably and being otherwise drawn into the deep contours of food items 34 to 37. The inventors have identified that avoiding the film 38 deforming into such contours is particularly important to prevent film rupture. The angled inclination of sidewalls 12 relative to base 11 has been found to have a significant effect on avoiding film rupture and to reliably adhere the film 38 onto and against faces 19 and food items 34 to 37 whilst the items 34 to 37 remain frozen. With the film 38 adhered under suction within tray cavity 33, a pulling force is imparted to sidewalls 12 and rim 13. The curvature provided at rim 13 in addition to base perimeter 15 is advantageous to resist such bending and twisting forces imparted by the adhered and tensioned film 38.

According to the specific implementation, film 38 comprises polypropylene optionally having a thickness in the range 95 to 105 pm. Tray 10 may also comprise polypropylene

-13in which a thickness of base 11, sidewalls 19 and rim 13 may be in the range 700 to 800 pm.

Claims

1. A package for packaging food items comprising:

a tray having a base, sidewalls extending upwardly from the base at an inclined angle relative to the base and a peripheral rim extending along the sidewalls at an opposite end to the base;

the base having a contact face and the sidewalls each having a respective inward facing face that together define a cavity within the tray;

a plurality of different food items seated on the contact face within the cavity; and a transparent film adhered under suction to each inward face of the sidewalls and the food items.

2. The package as claimed in claim 1 wherein from a position within the cavity, the sidewalls are inclined upwardly from the base at an angle in the range 125° to 160°, 130° to 155°, 135° to 155° or 140° to 150° relative to the base.

3. The package as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein each of the sidewalls comprises a step in a direction between the base and the rim and defined by a change in the angle by which each of the sidewalls extends relative to the base.

4. The package as claimed in claim 3 wherein from a position within the cavity, in the direction between the base and the rim, a part of each sidewall closest to the rim is orientated at an angle in the range 75° to 100°, 80° to 100°, 90° to 100° or 92° to 98° relative to the base.

5. The package as claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein in the direction between the base and the rim, the inward facing face at a part of each of the sidewalls closest to the base comprises a greater surface area than that of a part closest to the rim.

6. The package as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface area of the face of the part closest to the base is at least double the surface area of the part closest to the rim.

7. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein in a lengthwise direction of each sidewall, each sidewall is convex in the outward direction from the cavity.

8. The package as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a plurality of de-nest flanges projecting outwardly and downwardly at the sidewalls and/or an underside of the rim.

9. The package as claimed in claim 8 wherein the de-nest flanges are positioned at corners of the sidewalls immediately under the rim.

10. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, the rim at each sidewall is curved or angled outwardly from a central region of the cavity such that the tray at the rim is bowed outwardly relative to the central region of the cavity.

11. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein in a plane aligned generally parallel with the base, a perimeter of the base from which the sidewalls extend is curved or angled outwardly in a direction away from a central region of the base.

12. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tray comprises polypropylene.

13. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a thickness of the base and/or the sidewalls is in a range 400 to 900 gm, 500 to 800 gm, 600 to 800 gm or 700 to 800 gm.

14. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the film comprises polypropylene.

15. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a thickness of the film is in a range 80 to 120 gm, 90 to 110 gm or 95 to 105 gm.

16. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the food items are frozen.

17. The package as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a sleeve at least partially surrounding the tray externally of the cavity, the sleeve having a tab to releasably engage the rim for securement to the tray.

18. The package as claimed in claim 17 wherein the sleeve comprises card having regions of single thickness and at least one region of double thickness, the region of double thickness suspended over a mouth of a cavity at the region of the rim opposed to the base, the sleeve at least partially concealing the base, the sidewalls, the rim and the food items.

19. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the film is adhered under suction to the sidewalls and the food items by applying a partial vacuum to a region between the film and the sidewalls and the food items whilst the food items are frozen.

20. The method as claimed in claims 18 or 19 wherein the step of laying the film on the tray comprises heating the film and allowing the film to fall onto the tray whilst the film is heated and the food items are frozen.

20. A method of packaging food items within a package as claimed in any preceding claim comprising:

laying the film over the tray for contact with the sidewalls and the food items whilst the food items are frozen; and applying a partial vacuum to a region between the film and the sidewalls and the food items to adhere the film under suction to the sidewalls and the food items.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the step of trimming the film at the region of the rim by removing excess film.

22. The method as claimed in claims 20 or 21 wherein the step of laying the film on the tray comprises heating the film and allowing the film to fall onto the tray whilst the film is heated and the food items are frozen.

Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows:Claims

1. A package for packaging food items comprising:

9. The package as claimed in claim 8 wherein the de-nest flanges are positioned at comers of the sidewalls immediately under the rim.

13. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a thickness of the base and/or the sidewalls is in a range 400 to 900 pm, 500 to 800 pm, 600 to 800 pm or 700 to 800 pm.

15. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a thickness of the film is in a range 80 to 120 pm, 90 to 110 pm or 95 to 105 pm.

17. The package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the film is adhered under suction to the sidewalls and the food items by applying a partial vacuum to a region between the film and the sidewalls and the food items whilst the food items are frozen.

18. A method of packaging food items within a package as claimed in any preceding claim comprising:

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the step of trimming the film at the region of the rim by removing excess film.