Heat sealed, ovenable food carton lids

A paperboard lid covering a corresponding food distribution vessel fill opening, said paperboard lid having a first side with a calendered coating of particulate minerals which provides an outer surface suitable for the printing of graphics and a second side supporting a continuous coating of a dried, water-based acrylic copolymer emulsion which provides an inner surface suitable for direct food contact, the improvement wherein said dried, water-based acrylic copolymer emulsion further provides vapor barrier properties and for heat sealing said paperboard lid to said food distribution vessel in a covering position over said corresponding fill opening, wherein said dried, water-based acrylic copolymer emulsion is further characterized as being mass stable below 400.degree. F., can be tack bonded at 250.degree. F. or greater, has chloroform-soluble extractives not exceeding 0.5 mg/in.sup.2 of food contact surface when exposed to a food simulating solvent at 150.degree. F. for two hours, is applied to said second side with a dry coat weight in the range of 3 to 9 pounds per 3000 ft..sup.2 and wherein said dried copolymer emulsion contains polymer units derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of Acrylic acid;

• Acrylamide;
• 1,3-Butylene glycol dimethacrylate;
• 1, 4-Butylene glycol dimethacrylate;
• Diethylene glycol dimethacrylate;
• Diproplylene glycol dimethacrylate;
• Divinylbenzene;
• Ethylene glycol dimethacylate;
• Itaconic acid;
• Methacrylic acid;
• N-Methylolacrylamide;
• N-Methyl-1,4-pentanediol dimethacrylate;
• Propylene glycol dimethacrylate;
• Trivinylbenzene;
• Fumaric acid;
• Glycidyl methacrylate and N-hexyl methacrylate in the amount of greater than 0% no more than 5% based on the total polymer units of said dried, copolymer emulsion.