That's according to Kate Achelpohl, director, member communications for show organiser the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers' Institute (PMMI).
Speaking to Rod Addy, editor of FoodProductionDaily.com, at the show, Achelpohl said: "Food safety is especially big, because of the Food Safety Modernisation Act that was passed in the states a couple of years ago."
PMMI claimed attendee numbers for the show increased over the previous time it was held in 2010, despite Hurricane Sandy hitting the East Coast of the US hard.
The show welcomed 45,300 attendees, a three percent increase, much of which PMMI attributed to the 8% growth in numbers of international attendees compared to 2010.
The exhibition covered more than 1.1m net square feet at the McCormick Place convention centre, housing almost 2,000 exhibitors, a seven percent increase on 2010 figures.
“While we fully expected to surpass our attendance goals, the storm’s effect on East Coast travel prohibited many from making the show," said Charles Yuska, president and CEO of Pack Expo. "However, we still finished with the largest Pack Expo International since 2006."