Today’s recall of more than 3.2 million metal wire bristle grill brushes addresses a serious ingestion hazard caused by a dangerous design flaw that allows small wire bristles to detach from the brush and be swallowed without detection. There have been reports of four consumers who swallowed metal bristles and sought medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tracts or throats.

 Consumers should not wait until grilling season arrives to take action on this recall. CPSC strongly urges consumers to act now, stop using and discard grill brushes with metal wire bristles, and switch to non-wire alternatives. Before grilling, inspect the grill surface for any detached bristles and examine food closely. Consumers should report any incidents at SaferProducts.gov. 

CPSC appreciates its cooperative relationship with Weber, which agreed voluntarily to recall these defective brushes and do right by its customers.  At the same time, the Commission is reviewing this product category more broadly. Manufacturers of similar products have a choice: work proactively with CPSC to address known hazards or face continued enforcement scrutiny. The Commission will use its authorities as appropriate to ensure hazardous products are removed from the marketplace.