Weber has recalled about 3,200,000 metal wire bristle grill brushes, due to posing and ingestion hazard and risk of serious internal injuries.
Metal bristles can detach from the brush during use, adhere to grill grates or food, and be ingested. Ingested bristles may cause serious internal injury requiring medical treatment, including surgery.
The recall affects select models of grill brushes that were sold between 2011 and 2026. That’s 15 years of metal bristle grill brushes.
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Here are examples of the different types of wire grill brushes that Weber is recalling.
There were at least 38 reported incidents where small wire bristles detached from the grill brushes, and 4 reports of users seeking medical treatment after swallowing metal bristles.
Affected model numbers are 6277, 6278, 6463, 6464, 6493, and 6494. As the model numbers can be found on product packaging – which I assume most consumers no longer have – you’ll have to go by the images.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled grill brushes.
Contact Weber for a cold cleaning nylon bristle grill brush replacement. Their phone number is 877-597-9588 (M-F 8-5 ET), and you can also register for a replacement via the website.
More Info via US CPSC
More Info via Weber
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I’ll dig mine out from under the grill after the snow melts and will let you know how the recall process goes.
Ray
I had never thought that these would be hazardous, in spite of the fact I have had that material left on the grill or on a piece of meat. The YouTube channel smarter every day attempted to manufacture a grill cleaning device here in the United States and it’s a good tie in to see how difficult it is to do so. In that video, he highlighted the injuries that are caused by ingestion of these bits of wire. The video is titled. I tried to make something in America, the smarter grill scrubber something like that. Excellent video.
Another Bob
Happened to me. I found a loose bristle in my hamburger. Tossed the brush. Works perfect cleaning the grates but not worth the risk.
Alternatively crumpled tin foil cleans well.
Been using a stainless brillo pad attached to a handle. Doesn’t work as well but also doesn’t kill you so there’s that.
Flip the grates over and turn the grill to hi and burn the grease, food bits off.
MikeK
Many years ago, at a Chinese restaurant, I picked a tiny piece of wire from between my teeth. Wife and I presumed it came from the steel wool pad they used to clean the woks. Nothing is really safe. We use the foil on our grill.
Bonnie
A wooden grill scraper works pretty well. Doesn’t need to be one of those overpriced ones either, just an offcut of something domestic.
Eric
These wire brushes should really be banned outright. I don’t think people realize how dangerous and common the injuries really are from them.
I’ve really enjoyed using one of the wooden scrapers on a hot grate – it will burn it’s way into a custom fit over a while, and there’s no risk of ingesting any steel.
Grady
I came across a you tube video awhile back that delved into this subject. The channel is Smarter Everyday. title is The Smarter Scrubber. The man made a grill scrubber that was Safe and Made 100% in the U.S.A. A Very Interesting Watch. I highly recommend this video .
You may have already seen it, but I thought I would share.
Tom
I just submitted a picture of mine for the recall notice. I haven’t used it in years. I started reading about them and the horror stories about getting a piece of that metal stuck in your throat. I bought a different type of grill scrubber that is a one piece of coiled metal. I’m not looking at it right now, so that may not be the best description of the new one.
MattT
I just use a crumpled up ball of aluminum foil held by tongs. Works fine if you don’t crumple the ball too tight.