Vented food container

A molded foam container comprising:

• a tray including a base and a plurality of lower sidewalls, the base having a generally horizontal orientation, the lower sidewalls being integrally connected to the base and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, the lower sidewalls terminating at an outer rim;
• and
• a cover including a lid and a plurality of upper sidewalls, the lid having a generally horizontal orientation, the upper sidewalls being integrally connected to the lid and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, the upper sidewalls terminating at an outer rim, a number of the upper sidewalls having side vents formed therethrough, the side vents comprising elongated horizontal slots dimensioned to inhibit contaminants from entering the container, the upper and lower sidewalls each comprising a first and second pair of opposing sidewalls defining a generally rectangular container, the side vents being formed on only the first pair of opposing sidewalls of the upper sidewalls;
• the tray and cover being adapted for engagement along their respective outer rims to define an enclosed space within the container, the side vents being adapted to release moisture from the enclosed space when hot foods are packaged within the container.

A molded polystyrene foam container comprising:

• a tray including a rectangular base and four lower sidewalls, the base having a generally horizontal orientation, the lower sidewalls being integrally connected to the base and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, the lower sidewalls terminating at an outer rim;
• and
• a cover including a rectangular lid and four upper sidewalls, the lid having a generally horizontal orientation, the upper sidewalls being integrally connected to the lid and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, the upper sidewalls terminating at an outer rim, two of the upper sidewalls having a pair of side vents formed therethrough above the outer rim, each of the side vents comprising an elongated horizontal slot dimensioned to inhibit contaminants from entering the container, the side vents having an actual width W oriented at an angle of from about 110 degrees to 130 degrees relative to the lid, the side vents having an effective horizontal width less than about two-thirds the value of W;
• the tray and cover being adapted for engagement along their respective outer rims to define an enclosed space, the side vents being adapted to release moisture from the enclosed space when hot foods are packaged within the container.