diff --git a/src/advanced_inv_listitem.cpp b/src/advanced_inv_listitem.cpp
index 77ebbd5139a94..b1b52c32286d3 100644
--- a/src/advanced_inv_listitem.cpp
+++ b/src/advanced_inv_listitem.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ advanced_inv_listitem::advanced_inv_listitem( item *an_item, int index, int coun
     , stacks( count )
     , volume( an_item->volume() * stacks )
     , weight( an_item->weight() * stacks )
-    , cat( &an_item->get_category() )
+    , cat( &an_item->get_category_of_contents() )
     , from_vehicle( from_vehicle )
 {
     items.push_back( an_item );
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ advanced_inv_listitem::advanced_inv_listitem( const std::vector<item *> &list, i
     stacks( list.size() ),
     volume( list.front()->volume() * stacks ),
     weight( list.front()->weight() * stacks ),
-    cat( &list.front()->get_category() ),
+    cat( &list.front()->get_category_of_contents() ),
     from_vehicle( from_vehicle )
 {
     assert( stacks >= 1 );
diff --git a/src/clzones.cpp b/src/clzones.cpp
index 90f102b9b9758..40f3b93946714 100644
--- a/src/clzones.cpp
+++ b/src/clzones.cpp
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ cata::optional<tripoint> zone_manager::get_nearest( const zone_type_id &type, co
 zone_type_id zone_manager::get_near_zone_type_for_item( const item &it,
         const tripoint &where, int range ) const
 {
-    const item_category &cat = it.get_category();
+    const item_category &cat = it.get_category_of_contents();
 
     if( has_near( zone_type_id( "LOOT_CUSTOM" ), where, range ) ) {
         if( !get_near( zone_type_id( "LOOT_CUSTOM" ), where, range, &it ).empty() ) {
diff --git a/src/item.cpp b/src/item.cpp
index 188a27fb3d39b..f605d290f118c 100644
--- a/src/item.cpp
+++ b/src/item.cpp
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ static const ammotype ammo_plutonium( "plutonium" );
 static const item_category_id item_category_drugs( "drugs" );
 static const item_category_id item_category_food( "food" );
 static const item_category_id item_category_maps( "maps" );
+static const item_category_id item_category_container( "container" );
 
 static const efftype_id effect_cig( "cig" );
 static const efftype_id effect_shakes( "shakes" );
@@ -8421,6 +8422,15 @@ const item_category &item::get_category() const
     return type->category_force.is_valid() ? type->category_force.obj() : null_category;
 }
 
+const item_category &item::get_category_of_contents() const
+{
+    if( type->category_force == item_category_container && contents.num_item_stacks() == 1 ) {
+        return contents.only_item().get_category();
+    } else {
+        return this->get_category();
+    }
+}
+
 iteminfo::iteminfo( const std::string &Type, const std::string &Name, const std::string &Fmt,
                     flags Flags, double Value )
 {
diff --git a/src/item.h b/src/item.h
index 02073cd0dd66a..9b39ec302da55 100644
--- a/src/item.h
+++ b/src/item.h
@@ -463,6 +463,9 @@ class item : public visitable<item>
 
         // Returns the category of this item.
         const item_category &get_category() const;
+        // Returns the category of item inside this item. I.e. "can of meat" would be food, instead of container.
+        // If there are multiple items/stacks or none then it defaults to category of this item.
+        const item_category &get_category_of_contents() const;
 
         class reload_option
         {