Maple bacon jam identified as source of food-borne illness at CNE
Posted Aug 27, 2013 11:31:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Lab results have revealed that maple bacon jam — a component of the Cronut Burger — is to blame for some 223 cases of food-borne illness at the CNE, public health officials say.
Toronto Public Health says the jam served atop the burger contained Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria known to cause gastrointestinal illness.
Public health officials say they are investigating Le Dolci, which supplied the jam and the infamous doughnut-croissant hybrid to Epic Burgers & Waffles, to determine the cause of the contamination.
The Toronto bakery has voluntarily ceased production of the product.
“TPH will ensure that there will be no distribution of food products including the bacon jam from that establishment pending further investigation,” the statement reads.
As of Tuesday morning, Toronto Public Health says it has received 223 reports from patrons who experienced gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at the CNE from Aug. 16 to Aug. 20.
The common element in the cases health officials have investigated has been the Cronut Burger.
Epic Burgers & Waffles — the vendor that sold the Cronut Burger — will be allowed to reopen at the CNE Tuesday as long as they do not serve the maple bacon jam and all food safety requirements are met, Toronto Public Health says.
In a statement, the CNE vendor says it will no longer serve the Cronut Burger and will not do further business with the supplier of the jam.
“With the green-light to reopen given to us by the city’s health unit, we look forward to serving the public for the remainder of the CNE and well into the future,” the statement reads.
Epic Burgers & Waffles voluntarily shuttered following reports of food-borne illness.
On Aug. 20, paramedics treated 12 patrons who had symptoms of gastrointestinal illnesses — five of those people were taken to hospital.
The number of reported cases rose to 34 on Wednesday. By Wednesday night, that number rose to nearly 100.
On Friday, Toronto Public Health said early lab results indicated the Cronut Burger was responsible for the food-borne illness at the CNE. At that time, public health officials said up to 150 patrons fell ill.
