The new facility began production last week and includes a modern distribution center and 16,000 square feet of the latest high-tech equipment and systems available.

The lawsuit, filed by the Marler Clark law firm on behalf of the family of Robert Danell, blames the companies for the sale of “unreasonably dangerous” food that led to Danell’s death in 2010.

JBS said in a statement that it would acquire Agroveneto, which specializes in ground poultry meat and is based in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

The agreement between JBS and XL Foods has an option for JBS to buy the Canadian and American operations of XL Foods.

Third-quarter net income will be 331.8 million reais ($164 million), compared with a year-earlier loss of 67.5 million.

JBS Australia has closed its steak processing facility in King Island, citing continual losses.

Last night, workers at the JBS slaughterhouse and production facility, located just south of the city of Plainwell, ratified their first union contract.

JBS SA is leasing two Brazilian poultry plants from France's Group Doux to increase its chicken-processing capacity by 15 percent.

JBS's Argentine subsidiary, Swift, has closed five of its six slaughterhouses in Argentina, the last one as recently as February.

Brazil's JBS missed forecasts for its fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday as a weak North American poultry market eroded a boost from surging U.S. beef and pork prices.