Food package and absorbent pad with edge wicking

A food package for displaying and storing a food product adapted to exude liquids therefrom characterized by an increased rate of absorbency and by the ability of absorb liquids exuded from the food product irrespective of the usual positions in which the food package is stored or displayed, said package comprising

• a container for confining and displaying a food product, including a bottom wall for supporting the food product thereon, and
• an absorbent pad disposed within said container and overlying and resting upon said bottom wall thereof, said pad comprising upper and lower layers of normally liquid impervious material and an intermediate layer of absorbent material, said intermediate layer having two superposed portions, one of which extends to the periphery of the absorbent pad between said upper and lower layers so as to contact liquid exuded from a food product and wick that liquid into the interior of said pad for absorption by said intermediate layer, the other portion of said intermediate layer being confined wholly within said upper and lower layers, said upper and lower layers and said one portion of said intermediate layer being secured together around the periphery of said absorbent pad to prevent any substantial amount of liquids which enter the interior of the absorbent pad to form a seal spaced outwardly from said other portion of said intermediate layer and from reverse migration therefrom without significantly interfering with the wicking action of said one portion of said intermediate layer.