USDA OKs XL Foods shipments

The U.S. Agriculture Department has given XL Foods Inc. the green light to resume exports to the United States, Canadian officials say. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said on its website that the USDA informed it Friday that the Alberta company has been re-listed and can begin shipping products into the United States immediately. Canadian regulators last month allowed XL Foods' beef-processing plant to reopen with "enhanced" scrutiny after it was determined to be safe following an outbreak of E. coli that sickened at least 16 people in Canada and forced a massive recall of its products. XL Foods employed about 2,000 workers at the plant, which had been shut down Sept. 27. Brazilian JBS, an international meat conglomerate, has struck a deal to assume operations of XL Foods facilities.