Tyson's Chief Executive Richard Bond spoke highly of the business in China on a conference call, saying, "They are an excellent trading partner."

But Bond gave no details about trade with China other than that Tyson had achieved growing exports of chicken leg quarters to China, as well as other Asian countries, The Dow-Jones News reported.

Meanwhile, a Tyson spokeswoman said the company was investigating the tainted chicken claim by China's quality watchdog.

"We will work with the US and Chinese governments to get this matter resolved," the spokeswomen was quoted by the US media as saying.

Earlier this month, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said that frozen poultry from Tyson was contaminated with salmonella.