HLB Specialties sources papayas from Brazil, Guatemala and Mexico, and the company said its fruit has not in any way been implicated in the current Salmonella Uganda outbreak linked to fresh papayas.

HLB's Mexican papayas are grown organically and exclusively by its Michoacán-based partner-grower, which adheres to strict organic protocols. The company said it has never had any type of recall due to bacteria or disease-causing agents.

"Food safety is a very important part of HLB Specialties," the company said in a statement. "The company follows all food-safety guidelines put in place by FDA as well as third-party certifying agencies that continuously monitor our growers' work.

"Salmonella is a bacteria found in raw foods that have been handled with poor hygiene," the company continued. "It is not a problem linked to a specific kind of food, but with incorrect handling, most likely in post-production with the use of unsanitary water or an unclean packinghouse. Our papayas are grown and packed in certified fields and packinghouses and we are therefore confident that all our papayas, including our Mexican-grown fruits, are safe for consumption."

"We caution retailers and wholesalers to make a distinction between the different countries of origin," said Melissa Hartmann de Barros, director of communications. "For now the alert refers to Mexican papayas, and we await the development of the investigation and will keep our customers informed about any developments as they narrow it down to a specific grower and label."