Paint food container (8)
I believe the answer is:
eggshell
'paint' is the definition.
(eggshell is a colour of paint)
'food container' is the wordplay.
'food' becomes 'egg' (egg is a kind of food**).
'container' becomes 'shell'.
'egg'+'shell'='EGGSHELL'
(Other definitions for eggshell that I've seen before include "Painted finish with a light sheen" , "Pale yellowish white" , "Thin and delicate" , "that soldiers have to get through" , "Paint with just a slight gloss" .)