Considered a local institution in Cicero, New York since its opening in 1974, the Nature’s Fare Restaurant announced today that it is closing for good.  According to the Post-Standard, the restaurant, which cooked and prepared between 100 and 200 fresh, raw turkeys each day, was recently notified that it had been linked to the Salmonella infections of at least two Plainview county residents.  And this is not the first time.  Approximately 20 people in 2008, and another 7 people in 2009, had Salmonella infections that were linked to food prepared and served at the restaurant.

Interestingly, the owner says he will contact people in the restaurant business to see if they want to buy the site and operate it under a model that does not involve working with fresh, raw poultry.

 Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting. In mild cases, diarrhea may be non-bloody, occur several times per day, and not be very voluminous; in severe cases it may be frequent, bloody and mucoid, and of high volume.

Fever generally occurs in the 100°F to 102°F (38°C to 39°C) range. Vomiting is less common than diarrhea. Headaches, myalgias (muscle pain), and arthralgias (joint pain) are often reported as well. Whereas the diarrhea typically lasts 24 to 72 hours, patients often report fatigue and other nonspecific symptoms lasting 7 days or longer.