Container with improved tamper evident structure

A container, comprising:

• a basket having a basket lip along at least a portion of a periphery of the basket;
• a basket tear strip connected to the basket along at least a portion of the basket lip;
• wherein an outer edge of the basket lip includes a plurality of notches;
• and
• wherein an inner edge of the basket tear strip has a shape that complements the outer edge of the basket lip;
• and
• wherein the basket tear strip is connected to the basket lip by a plurality of basket links arranged at notches of the outer edge of the basket lip, each link extending between a notch and a complementary feature of the inner edge of the basket tear strip, and
• a lid mated with the basket, the lid having a lid lip along at least a portion of a periphery of the lid;
• and
• a lid tear strip connected to the lid along at least a portion of the lid lip;
• wherein an outer edge of the lid lip includes a plurality of notches;
• wherein an inner edge of the lid tear strip has a shape that complements the outer edge of the lid lip;
• and
• wherein the lid tear strip is connected to the lid lip by a plurality of lid links arranged at notches of the outer edge of the lid lip, each link extending between a notch and a complementary feature of the inner edge of the lid tear strip;
• wherein the basket tear strip is bonded to the lid tear strip to resist separation of the lid from the basket;
• wherein the bonded basket tear strip and lid tear strip are detachable from the basket lip and the lid lip when the bonded basket tear strip and the lid tear strip are urged away from the basket and the lid;
• and
• wherein detaching the bonded basket tear strip and lid tear strip exposes the outer edge of the basket lip and the outer edge of the lid lip.

A method of forming a container including a basket and a lid and packaging perishable goods in the container comprising:

• partially forming a container for containing perishable goods by forming a basket;
• positioning the basket to be loaded with perishable goods;
• at least partially loading the basket with the perishable goods;
• arranging the basket and a lid in relative proximity so that the basket and lid can be coupled;
• coupling the lid with the base;
• and
• completing forming the container by bonding the lid to the basket so that the lid resists separation from the basket.