If your RV barbecue kit includes a Cuisinart wire-bristle grill brush, it’s time to take a closer look. Conair has recalled about 1.72 million Cuisinart metal wire-bristle grill brushes after reports that small metal bristles can break loose during cleaning, stick to grill grates or food, and be swallowed. The sharp wires can cause serious and painful internal injuries and may require surgery to remove. We warned RVtravel.com readers in 2019 about this danger.
The recall covers eight grill brush models sold individually as well as some included in Cuisinart grill tool sets. The brushes, sold nationwide from June 2009 through March 2026, have black plastic, stainless steel or wooden handles and were available at retailers including Burlington, Ross, TJ Maxx, Amazon and Cuisinart.com.
Conair has received 54 reports of wire bristles detaching. In three cases, consumers accidentally swallowed the bristles and required medical treatment to remove them from the throat or digestive tract.
Dangerous results of swallowing wire bristle
Swallowing a wire bristle from a grill brush can cause serious, even life-threatening injuries. The tiny, needle-sharp wire can become lodged in the throat, esophagus, stomach or intestines, where it may puncture tissue, cause severe infection or damage nearby organs. In some cases, emergency surgery is needed to remove the bristle and repair internal injuries.
Symptoms may include sudden throat pain, difficulty swallowing, chest or abdominal pain, fever, or the feeling that something is stuck in the throat. Anyone who suspects they have swallowed a grill brush bristle should seek immediate medical care.
Consumers should stop using the recalled brushes immediately. A bristle-free grill brush from Grillart is one of many highly rated bristle-free brushes available at Amazon. Other retailers also offer bristle-free products.
Conair is offering either a full cash refund or a credit toward purchases at Cuisinart.com, with an additional bonus for those choosing store credit. Owners will be asked to submit photos of the brush and then discard it. Instructions, model numbers and claim information are available through the recall website or by calling Conair’s recall hotline.
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RVT1269b
Thank you for the warning, RV Travel. I also appreciate you recommending a safe grill cleaner, scraper. I use a grill cleaning brick (https://a.co/d/04oGOESc) and a metal scraper with notches (something like https://a.co/d/0d3sT3eU). I will save the suggested scraper in one of my Amazon lists. Have a great day and safe travels!
Canada has been warning against using wire bristle brushes for at least 10 years now. Sadly, they did not ban them, only implemented voluntary industry standards. Since reading the stories years ago, I’ve been using wooden scrapers. I recently started using a wire brush that has the bristles coiled (attached at both ends). That way, if a bristle breaks, one end will “pop up” visibly, and I can discard the brush.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/health-canada-decides-against-banning-wire-bristle-bbq-brushes-1.4445470