NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private equity firm 3G Capital is in talks to buy Kraft Foods Group in a deal likely to be worth more than US$40 billion (S$54.70 billion), the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The acquisitive Brazilian private-equity firm and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made headlines and shook up the food industry in 2013 with a takeover of iconic ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co for US$23 billion.

3G Capital has been eagerly looking for more acquisition targets after it raised US$5 billion for deal-making and now has Kraft Foods in its sights, the newspaper said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The deal could be another transformative event for the industry.

It was not immediately clear if Berkshire would be involved in the 3G bid for Kraft, producer of the American childhood staple macaroni and cheese, and other processed foods.