A Guide to FDA-Approved Packaging Materials for RTE Foods

Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods come with strict safety and shelf-life requirements—and the packaging must meet them all. Selecting the wrong materials can lead to non-compliance, contamination risks, and costly recalls. At Teinnovations, we help food brands navigate the complex world of FDA-approved packaging materials to ensure their RTE products are safe, stable, and ready for market.

What Does “FDA-Approved” Really Mean?

The FDA doesn’t approve packaging materials by brand or product—it regulates the types of substances that can safely come into contact with food. These materials must meet the standards laid out in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which covers everything from adhesives and coatings to polymers and colorants.

To be considered compliant, a packaging material must:

Be made from substances approved for direct food contact
Not leach harmful substances into food under expected use conditions
Withstand processing environments (e.g., hot fill, freezing, microwave, etc.)
Be used within the limitations of its FDA use designation

Why RTE Foods Require Extra Attention

RTE foods often skip final kill steps (like consumer cooking), which means any packaging-related contamination could reach the end user. As a result, packaging materials must be:

Clean and non-reactive
Sealed to prevent microbial ingress
Compatible with the food’s chemistry (acidic, fatty, moist, etc.)
Stable across the product’s shelf-life and storage conditions

Common FDA-Approved Materials for RTE Packaging

While each application is different, some commonly used FDA-compliant materials for RTE foods include:

CPET and PP trays – excellent thermal stability and food safety profile
Multilayer films with EVOH or nylon barriers – strong oxygen and moisture control
Peelable lidding films – designed for safe, hygienic opening
High-performance adhesives and coatings – used in lamination without leaching risk

We help match these materials to your food product’s specific properties and processing environment.

Packaging System Validation

Beyond choosing the right materials, it’s essential to validate that your full system—film, tray, seal—is compliant and stable. At Teinnovations, we support this with:

Material spec documentation and FDA citations
Seal integrity and migration testing
Shelf-life simulation and storage stability evaluation

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even when using FDA-compliant materials, issues can arise if:

The material is not used according to FDA-designated conditions (e.g., temperature limits)
Incompatible materials are layered or laminated
Seals are contaminated by product or moisture during filling

Our team helps identify and prevent these risks before they become costly problems.

Need help ensuring your packaging meets FDA standards?

Teinnovations can provide the technical guidance and material sourcing you need to ensure safety, compliance, and peace of mind in your RTE product packaging. Contact us today to get started.