| abstract |
The present invention relates to a food tray for supporting, containing and displaying food products which tend to exude or purge juices or liquids. In particular, the present invention relates to a food tray which comprises a sunken exudate reservoir. The reservoir is formed by adhering a sheet of a liquid impermeable material in a liquid tight manner to a raised shoulder area of a support portion of the tray to form a false bottom. The sheet material is further supported by standoffs rising up from the tray bottom. The sheet material is also perforated so as to allow flow of the exudate or purge through the sheet down into the reservoir where the exudate is trapped and retained out of contact with a food product which is located on top of said supported sheet. Preferably, the sheet material is opaque and the exudate is thereby hidden from view. Even more preferably, the sheet material is of the same color as the tray. |