Two CNE food vendors close: Health expectations at the fair in line with city requirements

It appears that health and cleanliness have become real Achilles heels for food vendors at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition.

We all know about Cronut Burger-gate, which was late elevated to a Maple Baconado after Toronto Public Health confirmed an outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus.

Now, the annual fair is confirming the closure of two other food booths following the discovery of safety concerns.

The CNE said in a statement that Bourbon Street Grill and Bao 360 Shanghai Express, both owned by Innovated Restaurant Group, will remain closed through the end of the fair after failing to providing cleaning supplies and storing food at unsafe temperatures.

Here is Innovated Restaurant Group’s website, with a list of all the permanent locations their restaurants have in the U.S. and Canada. The temporary locations at the CNE won’t open again this year.

[ More Brew: Cronut burger’s maple bacon jam pegged as cause of outbreak ]

“We continue to be vigilant with our multi-tiered approach to food safety, which includes working closely with Toronto Public Health and our own food safety consultants,” said general manager David Bednar. “Our approach to this issue, as with other general issues of safety, leaves no room for compromise.”

Full reports on the failure of those two vendors can be been reviewed online through the city’s DineSafe program. Temporary food retailers like those at the CNE are expected to live up to the same health requirements of restaurants throughout the city.

It appears both Bourbon Street and Bao 360 failed several “crucial” points, including failing to ensure food is not contaminated and failing to “prevent gross unsanitary conditions.” Which, frankly, sounds about as bad as it gets.

[ More Brew: Cronut burgers contaminated with staphylococcus aureas ]

Toronto’s DineSafe program is a food inspection system that every bar and restaurant in the city must pass between one and three times each year. Those deemed clean receive a green “Pass” card to display in their windows. Those where concerns are found receive either a yellow “Conditional Pass” or a red “Closed” sign.

Food vendors at the CNE are also subjected to an additional list of specific health requirements, which includes mind-blowing demands such as providing hand washing supplies and not storing food on the ground.

Toronto Public Health has received 223 reports of CNE visitors falling ill after eating food so far this year. The health agency has been adamant about health inspections at the CNE, having conducted more than 300 spot checks and probes since the fair launched on Aug. 16. It also offered training to over 1,600 food handlers ahead of the opening weekend.

Still, three separate health scares is an awful smudge on the fair's permanent record. Something is starting to smell, and it's not just the maple bacon jam.

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