Food storage container product attributes

Food storage containers are sold as systems: a container body, one or more lid styles, and sometimes drain trays or dollies, all sold as separate items. The same capacity can come in several footprints, so a lid that fits an 8-quart square container may not fit an 8-quart round one. Supplier files often list the lid in the description of the container or leave it out entirely, which is why lid compatibility is the attribute buyers most often cannot find.

Material decides most of the other answers. Polycarbonate, polypropylene and polyethylene differ in clarity, temperature range, chemical resistance and whether they contain BPA, and a color can signal a material or simply a color-coding scheme. Temperature limits, dishwasher suitability and the FDA food-contact regulation that covers the resin should be recorded per SKU from the manufacturer's documentation, not assumed from the material family.

Pack configuration is the other common trap. Containers may be sold each, in sixes or by the case, and the GTIN on the case differs from the one on a single unit. A clean record keeps sell unit, case quantity and each GTIN level separate so pricing and ordering stay aligned.

The food storage containers attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 11 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN) manufacturer_part_number_mpn	Identifier	Core	SQ-8-PC-CLR
Brand / Product Line brand_product_line	Text	Core	Example Brand square container series
Case Pack / Sell UOM case_pack_sell_uom	Text	Core	6 per case; sold by the case
GTIN (UPC-A / GTIN-14) gtin_upc_a_gtin_14	Identifier	Core	Each: 012345678103; case: 10012345678100

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Capacity capacity	Number · qt	Core	8
Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) exterior_dimensions_l_x_w_x_h	Text · in	Core	8-3/4 x 8-3/4 x 9-1/8 in
Temperature Rating (Min / Max) temperature_rating_min_max	Text · °F	Buyer decision	-40 to 210 °F (-40 to 99 °C)

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Product Type product_type	Controlled list	Core	Container (lid sold separately)
Material material	Controlled list	Core	Polycarbonate
Shape shape	Controlled list	Core	Square
Color color	Controlled list	Core	Clear
Lid / Cover Type lid_cover_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Snap-on cover
Graduation Markings graduation_markings	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Molded exterior, qt and L

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Compatible Lid / Container Family compatible_lid_container_family	Text	Buyer decision	Fits lid SQ-LID-8X8; shared by 2, 4, 6 and 8 qt square containers

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Core	United States
NSF/ANSI Certification nsf_ansi_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	NSF/ANSI 2
BPA Free bpa_free	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	No (polycarbonate is made from BPA)
FDA Food-Contact Resin Citation fda_food_contact_resin_citation	Text	Channel / evidence	21 CFR 177.1580 (polycarbonate resins)

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Compatible Lid MPN / Container Family
• Temperature Range (min / max)
• Color-Code Meaning
• Nested and Stacked Height
• Sell Unit vs Case Pack

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing food storage containers ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Which lid snaps onto this 8-quart square container?
• Can this container go through a high-temperature dish machine?
• Is it BPA-free for our school food service contract?
• Is it sold individually or only by the case of six?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ