A process for packaging a food product such as soft ice-cream, frozen yogurt
or
the like in a single-serving package comprises a continuous in-line system in which
a pot (9) is formed in a deformable bottom web (2) of plastics material
and a lid (12) with dispensing aperture (14) is formed in a top web
(4) of plastics material. Food product is filled into the formed pot and
the webs are brought together in register with a lid aligned over the mouth of
the pot. The lid is sealed to the pot at a sealing station and the aperture in
the lid is covered and sealed with a peel-off tab or label (16). To dispense
the product for consumption, the tab is removed and the product is extruded by
pressing down on the deformable pot to collapse it, forcing the product through
the aperture in the lid. To facilitate this, at least a portion of the lid is formed
so as to be sufficiently rigid as to provide a bearing surface toward which the
pot can be collapsed. In an alternative arrangement, the bearing surface can be
provided by a rigid insert (34) placed in the package between the food product
and the lid and in this case the lid may be formed from a flimsy material.