In the heart of State College, at 1229 S. Atherton St., Faccia Luna has been at the center of a health investigation this week. Photo by Andrea Robinson | For StateCollege.com reveals the scene. A longtime local restaurant owner, Bill McFadden, insists that food was not the culprit behind the illnesses that led to the temporary closure. Since Monday, the pizzeria and Italian restaurant has been shut down, with multiple people reporting getting sick after visiting or working there over the weekend. Borough spokesperson Kayla Lafferty confirmed that the State College Health Department is conducting an investigation and has reached out to the state Department of Health and Department of Agriculture for assistance in ensuring food safety.

Symptoms and Reporting

It is recommended that anyone experiencing symptoms of foodborne illness consult their physician to determine if treatment is needed. To report such symptoms, people are asked to email the Borough at [email protected] and Betsy Negron, the PA Department of Health Epidemiologist for this region, at [email protected]. A post in the Facebook group Foodies of State College about people falling ill with gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at Faccia Luna drew numerous replies from customers who shared their experiences. Many mentioned having salad from the restaurant before falling ill.

Norovirus and the Spread

Owner Bill McFadden claims that the illnesses were not food poisoning but rather norovirus that spread among staff and diners. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea and is most common in winter months. It can be spread through various means, including food, beverages, surfaces, or close contact with an infected person. Many of McFadden's employees became ill, and one staff member who was sick went to the hospital for testing and tested positive for norovirus at the request of the health department.

It was a busy Penn State football weekend, and the restaurant was crowded. McFadden believes that someone brought the virus in, whether it was due to the football crowd or his employees. But he is certain that it was not the food. The health department will confirm this, he says.

Lafferty did not respond to questions about the source of the illness or the number of complaints received. The state health and agriculture departments have also not yet responded to requests for comment.

Health Department Actions

The health department directed McFadden to throw away lettuce and sanitize the place with bleach water. They did not want the restaurant to open on Wednesday to ensure proper cleaning and disinfection. McFadden said he understands the need for these measures and is committed to ensuring the safety of his customers. He added that if bad lettuce had been the source of the illness, it would have likely caused problems at other establishments that bought it from the same vendor.

Faccia Luna has been in business since 1991, and McFadden has a long history in the local restaurant industry, dating back to the 1970s. This is his first experience with a situation like this, and he is understandably upset. He knows that people are saying all kinds of things, but he is confident that the truth will come out.

Despite the closure, McFadden hopes to reopen the restaurant on Thursday. He is working hard to get his staff back in place and ensure that everything is in order for a safe reopening.