For restaurants, cafés, bakeries and cloud kitchens, packaging is part of the product. It carries the brand, protects the food and — most importantly — must be safe. “Food grade printing” is a term you'll hear often. Here's what it means in practice and the questions to ask before ordering.
Food-contact vs non-contact packaging
The first distinction is whether the packaging touches the food directly:
- Direct food contact: Burger boxes, fries cones, fried chicken boxes, bowls, cups, wraps and tray liners where food sits on the surface.
- Indirect or no contact: Paper carrier bags, outer sleeves, labels on sealed containers, boxes holding already-wrapped items.
Direct-contact packaging needs materials suitable for food contact. Non-contact packaging has more flexibility, but still benefits from clean, low-odour materials.
What makes packaging suitable for food
1. The board or paper
Food packaging is typically made from food-contact grade paperboard (“food board”). For example, our fried chicken takeaway box and branded fries cones use 250 GSM food board.
2. Printing on the outside
Branding is usually printed on the outer surface, keeping ink away from the food-contact side.
3. Grease and moisture resistance
Fried and saucy foods need a surface that resists grease so the box stays strong and clean.
4. Low-odour, suitable inks
Inks and coatings for food packaging should be appropriate for the application and fully cured or dried.
Packaging types and what to check
| Packaging | Food contact | Key check |
|---|---|---|
| Burger and chicken boxes | Direct | Food board, grease resistance |
| Fries cones | Direct | Food board, rigidity |
| Salad bowls with printed sleeve | Bowl direct; sleeve indirect | Sleeve printed separately from food surface |
| Tray mats | Often direct | Paper suitability and print placement |
| Paper carrier bags | Indirect | Strength and handle quality |
| Labels and seals | Indirect | Adhesion to container surface |
A smart approach for bowls and containers is a printed sleeve — like our 750 ml salad bowl with custom printed sleeve — which puts branding on a separate band around the container.
Questions to ask your packaging supplier
- Is this material intended for direct food contact?
- Which side is printed, and is the food-contact side unprinted?
- Is it suitable for hot, oily or wet foods?
- Can it be used in a microwave or oven? (Most printed paper packaging is not.)
- What documentation is available if my business needs it for inspections?
Labels and compliance
Food businesses in the UAE must follow local food safety and labelling rules from the relevant municipal authority. Printed packaging and labels can carry required information such as ingredients, allergens and dates — check with your food safety adviser for exactly what applies to your products. Tamper-evident labels add reassurance for delivery orders.
Frequently asked questions
Are paper bags food grade?
Carrier bags are usually used for already-packed food, so they don't normally touch food directly.
Can I print my logo inside the box?
Printing is generally kept on the outer surface for direct-contact packaging. Ask us about your specific design.
Where can I see food packaging?
Browse our food packaging collection.