CHICAGO - Pilgrim's Pride Corp said Wednesday it would not comment on a newspaper story that Brazilian beef company JBS may be interested in taking over the U.S. chicken company.

We don't comment on rumors or speculation, Pilgrim spokesman Gary Rhodes told Reuters in an email.

Newspaper Valor Economico reported Wednesday, without saying how it obtained the information, that JBS, the world's largest beef processor, has approached Pilgrim's Pride for possible takeover talks.

A JBS official in a telephone call with Reuters declined to comment on the newspaper story. (Reporting by Bob Burgdorfer; Editing by John Picinich)