A company whose papayas have been linked to a deadly multistate salmonella outbreak in the U.S. has initiated a recall of its products, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

The agency is warning consumers to avoid all Caribeña brand Maradol papayas, which are green before they ripen and then turn yellow.

One person has died in New York City after contracting salmonella linked to fresh Maradol papayas, with dozens more people infected. 

"Grande Produce has informed the FDA that the company initiated a limited recall of their Caribeña brand Maradol papayas distributed nationwide from July 7 - July 18, 2017," the FDA said in an update.

"As of July 25, 2017, Grande Produce has not issued a press release to notify consumers of their recall. Therefore, FDA is advising consumers to avoid all Caribeña brand Maradol papayas.

"The FDA also noted that there are illnesses in states where Grande Produce did not distribute papayas and is continuing its investigation."

The papayas in question are of Mexican origin.

Grande Produce declined to comment on the situation when called by Fresh Fruit Portal yesterday.

The FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and other state and local partners are investigating the illnesses.

So far people have been infected in the states of Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Virginia. New York and New Jersey have seen the highest number of cases.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 17 to June 28, with the age range of infected people going from less than 1 year to 95.

The CDC reported 12 people had so far been hospitalized. More people are expected to fall ill as symptoms may not appear for a while after eating infected fruit.

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