TORONTO – At least 34 people have reported symptoms of foodborne illnesses at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, public health officials said Wednesday.
Dr. Lisa Berger said Epic Burger and Waffles, which sells cronut burgers, will voluntarily remain closed as a precaution while health officials continue their investigation.
“All the food that was available at that food premise has been disposed of,” Burger said at a news conference.
“Samples of that food have been sent to the public health laboratory for sampling,” she said, adding that it will take a few days to get the results.
Berger said a three-hour inspection of the cronut burger maker was conducted Wednesday after people reported vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps on Tuesday night.
Paramedics treated 12 people who had symptoms of gastrointestinal illnesses. Five of those people were taken to hospital.
EMS officials haven’t been able to say if those treated had eaten food from the same vendors.
“To date, Toronto Public Health has received reports of 34 cases of persons who have reported symptoms of foodborne illness in relation to eating at the CNE,” Berger said.
Health officials are asking anyone who suffered a foodborne illness at the CNE to contact them.
Berger also noted that there are a number of ways people become ill at the fair such as “the hot weather we’ve had lately, dehydration, heat, food.”
