Is the cronut burger to blame for CNE visitors' illnesses?

At least a dozen Canadian National Exhibition patrons reported feeling ill and five of them were taken to hospital after eating at the annual Toronto fair Tuesday night.

Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were called to the CNE — the Ex — after 12 people reported gastrointestinal problems, including stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, after eating at the annual summer fair.

For most of those dozen cases, the symptoms were minor, but five people were taken to hospital with what has been described as a minor gastrointestinal illness. None of the cases is life-threatening.

EMS could not confirm what the patients ate or whether they had visited the same food vendors.

It appears, however, that some felt ill after eating the fair's much hyped cronut burger — a hamburger with a croissant-doughnut mix for a bun, topped with a maple bacon jam. Optional toppings include egg and extra bacon.

CBC News was contacted Wednesday by two people who claim they became ill after eating a cronut at the Ex. One said his wife became sick after eating a cronut burger, seafood chowder fries, ice cream waffles and a smoothie at the CNE. He, however, did not fall ill after eating a cronut burger.

Another man told CBC he felt ill after eating a cronut burger at the Ex and a slate of other high-fat snacks that included a Canuck burger, sweet potato fries, poutine and a Philly cheesesteak