Haihui Eastern editorial team · Published 2026-10-14 · Reviewed 2026-10-14
Start with contents and contact conditions
Specify the food, required working fill, filling method and temperatures, storage conditions, contact duration and distribution route. A chilled dairy tub, frozen ice-cream pack and ingredient container do not necessarily have the same requirements.
For the intended market, request documentation that identifies the exact body, lid, inner seal and materials. European Commission guidance explains that food packaging is a food-contact material and must meet applicable requirements; a generic supplier certificate or an IML label is not a substitute for model-specific evidence.
Compare the complete package
Identify the body opening and rim, inner seal if needed, removable lid, reclosure and filled-pack handling. Confirm how the proposed assembly will pass through the actual filling and sealing operation.
Working fill, nominal size and brimful capacity answer different questions. State the basis and units, and include outside limits where a tray, carton, shelf or filling head constrains the pack. Mass-to-volume conversion needs the actual contents density.
Scroll across to compare all columns.
| Food project | Inputs to define | Sample review |
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream / frozen products | Serving, storage temperatures, distribution and reclosure | Complete filled pack under intended conditions |
| Yogurt / chilled dairy | Filling, cooling, seal and opening method | Rim, seal, lid and reading surfaces |
| Ingredients / prepared food | Contents, working fill and handling route | Complete closure and outside envelope |
Select decoration after confirming the format
For IML food packaging, confirm whether the proposed model is injection molded and how the label is inserted. Some plastic food containers use other forming or decoration methods. Printed graphics alone do not prove IML.
Approve the actual decorated surfaces and model-specific dielines. A decorated body does not establish that its lid supports IML. Confirm label construction, artwork revision, seam or corners and the production-representative sample together.
Make the quotation comparable
Use the same body, closure, decorated areas and quantity per artwork when comparing quotations. Request the actual model drawing, available configuration, sample stages, packing and order terms.
MOQ, resin, dimensions and delivery timing are not inferred from a retail photograph. Include destination and requested documentation in the brief, then record which items are confirmed and which still require review.
- Contents and contact conditions
- Working fill, dimensions and filling constraints
- Body, seal, lid and handling configuration
- Decorated surfaces and artwork versions
- Quantity, packing, destination and sample requirements
Purchasing questions
Does IML make a container food safe?
No. Suitability depends on the complete materials and intended conditions of use. Request the applicable evidence for the exact proposed pack.
Can a similar ice-cream tub replace the selected model?
Similar appearance or named size is insufficient. Check the drawing, closure, process, intended conditions and approved sample before accepting a substitution.
Which page should I use for a food packaging quote?
Use Food Containers for contents and application requirements. Use IML Tubs & Containers for decorated body geometry, and Custom IML for label-surface and artwork approval.
Sources and further reading
General purchasing guidance does not replace the approved model drawing, test results or order terms.