Walmart has issued an urgent recall affecting nearly 4.5 million grill-cleaning brushes sold over the past five years after federal safety officials warned that metal bristles could break loose, end up in food, and cause serious internal injuries requiring surgery.
Hidden Danger on Your Grill
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the October 1 recall covering five Expert Grill brand products sold at Walmart stores nationwide and online. The brushes, priced between $1 and $28, pose a risk that may not be immediately obvious to consumers. Small metal bristles can detach during cleaning and remain on cooking surfaces, where they later stick to food and potentially cause internal injuries if swallowed.
The recalled products include handheld brushes, long-handled brushes with scrapers, a three-head stainless steel bristle brush, and a 10-piece barbecue tool set. All feature black plastic or stainless steel handles, with some including attached metal scrapers. The brushes were manufactured in China and imported by the retail giant, which is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Five Years of Sales
Some affected brushes have been on store shelves since January 2021, meaning American families may have purchased them years before the recall announcement. Federal officials emphasized the danger despite no reported injuries or incidents to date. When metal bristles detach and become lodged in grilled food, they can cause serious harm requiring surgical intervention to remove.
Walmart issued a statement emphasizing customer safety as a top priority. The company confirmed full cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the product manufacturer to remove all recalled items from stores and notify purchasers. Consumers can identify affected products using model numbers listed in the federal recall notice.
What Shoppers Should Do
Walmart urges anyone who purchased these Expert Grill brushes to stop using them immediately and return them to any Walmart location for a full refund, regardless of purchase date. Customers can contact Walmart directly at 800-925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s product recall website for additional information and complete product details.