Thermoformed flexible package with enlarged integral removable tab at distal end of dispensing tube

A highly flexible thermoformed dispensing package for a flowable material, the package produced from one or more heat-sealable flexible polymeric sheets to form a fluid-tight dispensing package and comprising:

• a. a thermoformed container portion that includes a recessed chamber having opposing side walls, top and base walls and bounded by a peripheral area, the chamber configured and arranged to receive the flowable material,
• b. an elongated dispensing tube integrally formed with the container portion and bounded by a contiguous peripheral area, the dispensing tube defining a dispensing channel dimensioned to pass the flowable material, the base of the dispensing tube channel being in fluid communication with the chamber, the opposing free end of the dispensing tube being formed with a sealed closure portion, the dispensing tube having a weakened transverse parting line proximate the sealed closure portion to facilitate the manual removal of the sealed closure portion to open the channel for dispensing the flowable material, and
• c. an enlarged safety tab extending from the sealed closure portion of the dispensing tube, the enlarged safety tab being integrally formed from the one or more heat-sealed polymeric sheets from which the dispensing package is formed and dimensioned and configured to avoid inadvertent ingestion by a human when the enlarged safety tab and sealed closure portion are separated from the dispensing tube.