Thermoplastic packaging

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a food containment system comprising at least one container including a primary receptacle and one or more secondary receptacles. The food containment system further comprising at least one lid attached to the at least one container and enclosing the primary and secondary receptacles, wherein the primary receptacle includes a primary food and the one or more secondary receptacles include a secondary food. Method for packaging the containers described above is also contemplated.

1 . A food containment system comprising:
 at least one container, the at least one container including:
 a primary receptacle; and 
 one or more secondary receptacles; 
   at least one lid attached to the at least one container and enclosing the primary and secondary receptacles, wherein:
 i. the primary receptacle includes a primary food; and 
 ii. the one or more secondary receptacles include a secondary food. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary food comprises chickpeas. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the primary food is hummus. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary food comprises fresh tomato sections. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the primary food is a salsa. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary food is selected from a salad dressing, a dip, a guacamole, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary food includes one or more ingredients selected from garlic, black peppers, cayenne peppers, green peppers, red peppers, jalapeno peppers, habanero peppers, chili peppers, poblano peppers, cayenne pepper, Jamaican Scotch Bonnet peppers, avocadoes, black beans, red beans, white beans, pine nuts, soybean, eggplants, garbanzo beans, sesame tahini, artichokes, onions, sundried tomatoes, salt, cane sugar, cilantro, carrots celery, parsley, basil, cumin, peaches, spinach, dill, corn, vinegar, water, olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, soy sauce, limes, lemons, pineapples, apricots, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, mangos, olives, potatoes, sour cream, yogurt, mayonnaise or cheese. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the ingredients are organically produced. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the primary food and the secondary food consist essentially of natural ingredients. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the secondary food includes roasted pine nuts, garlic cloves, roasted red peppers, spicy cilantro, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container includes a first container defining the primary receptacle and a second container separate from the first container defining the one or more secondary receptacles. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more secondary receptacles includes a first receptacle having a first height and a second receptacle having a second height, wherein the first height is different from the second height. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first container is positioned above the second container, the first container is positioned below the second container, or the first container an the second container are positioned side-by-side with one another. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first container includes a first lid and the second container includes a second lid for enclosing the primary and secondary receptacles. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein either the first container or the second container is at least partially disposed within the other component. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary containers includes a first receptacle having one or more secondary foods and wherein the primary food has about 150% greater volume than the volume of the one or more secondary foods included in the first receptacle. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the primary food has about 200% greater volume than the volume of the one or more secondary foods included in the first receptacle. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the primary food has about 70% greater volume than the volume of the one or more secondary foods included in the first receptacle. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container is formed of a thermoplastic polymer and a nanoparticle including an element exhibiting anti-microbial activity, or an alloy or compound of the element, selected from silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, zinc, magnesium, tin, copper, antimony, or bismuth. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one container is formed by blow molding, injection molding, rotational molding, thermoforming, rotational extruding, die cutting, vacuum forming, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyethylene terephthalate. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the mean particle size of the nanoparticles of the nanoparticle filler ranges from about 1 to about 10 nm. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer over at least a portion of the at least one container. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the protective layer is a plastic film, a plastic sheet, or both. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one label. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one label is affixed to the at least one container by dry transfer labeling, hot stamping, thermal labeling, screen printing, pad printing or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one label includes nutrition labeling. 
   
   
       28 . A food containment system comprising:
 a first container including a primary receptacle   a second container including one or more secondary receptacles;   a primary lid attached to the second container and enclosing the one or more secondary receptacles, wherein:
 i. the primary receptacle includes a primary food; 
 ii. the one or more secondary receptacles include a secondary food; and 
 iii. the second container is at least partially disposed within the first container. 
   
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the primary food includes chickpeas. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the primary food is hummus. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the secondary food includes one or more ingredients selected from garlic, black peppers, cayenne peppers, green peppers, red peppers, jalapeno peppers, habanero peppers, chili peppers, poblano peppers, cayenne pepper, Jamaican Scotch Bonnet peppers, avocadoes, black beans, red beans, white beans, pine nuts, soybean, eggplants, garbanzo beans, sesame tahini, artichokes, onions, sundried tomatoes, salt, cane sugar, cilantro, carrots celery, parsley, basil, cumin, peaches, spinach, dill, corn, vinegar, water, olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, soy sauce, limes, lemons, pineapples, apricots, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, mangos, olives, potatoes, sour cream, yogurt, mayonnaise or cheese. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the secondary food i s roasted pine nuts, garlic cloves, roasted red peppers, or spicy cilantro. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first container and the second container are engageable with one another for enclosing the first container. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one lid is engageable with the second container for enclosing the second container. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 31  wherein one or more primary foods or the one or more secondary foods comprises an oil based food that is at least about 10% by weight and the other comprises a water based food that is at least about 10% by weight.