Portion control cups, lidding material for said cup, method of making said cups and lids and device for forming a removal line in said cups and lids

A container assembly, comprising:

• a plurality of containers arranged each having the same orientation and joined to at least one adjacent container along at least one edge, wherein the containers are arranged in rows and/or columns, each of the plurality of containers comprising:
• a body having a volume defined therein for retaining a product and having a top surface adapted to be sealed by a lidding material,
• a channel defined in a portion of the body such that the channel is in fluid communication with the internal volume at a first end and sealed by a portion of the body at an oppositely disposed second end, and
• a top flange surrounding a top surface of the body and including a portion that borders the channel;
• and
• a removal line disposed in each of the containers to define a removable portion comprising the portion of the body sealing the channel and the portion of the top flange that borders the channel, wherein:
• the removal line extends from a first edge to a second edge and across the channel such that the removable portion can be removed from the body along the removal line to expose the second end of the channel,
• the removal line comprises first and second portions disposed on opposed sides of a third portion and one or more extension portions,
• the first and second portions extend inwardly from the first and second edges, respectively, but do not cross the channel, each of the first and second portions comprises a line of reduced strength having about 100% penetration through the container material,
• the third portion extends at least across the channel and connects to the first and second portions, the third portion comprises a line of reduced strength having less than 100% penetration through the container material;
• and
• one or more extension portions extending outwardly from the first and/or second portions and crossing a joined edge between adjacent containers, the extension portions each comprises a line of reduced strength having about 100% penetration through the container material.