About 4.4 million Expert Grill wire brushes sold at Walmart can shed tiny metal bristles that stick to the grill or the food, and Walmart is giving a full refund or store credit for every one of them. Swallowing a bristle can cause serious internal injuries that could require surgery, federal safety officials said. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Story Snapshot
- Walmart recalled about 4,477,655 Expert Grill brushes with metal wire bristles because the bristles can come loose and stick to the grill or the food.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency that oversees product safety, says a swallowed bristle can cause serious internal injuries that could require surgery.
- Five models are covered, including a 10-piece grill tool set. They were sold from January 2021 through August 2026.
- Walmart is offering a full refund or a credit to spend at any Walmart store or on Walmart.com.
- No incidents or injuries have been reported, the CPSC notice says.
How To Tell If Your Brush Is One Of Them
The CPSC announced the recall on Thursday, October 1. Every recalled brush carries the Expert Grill name and has metal wire bristles with a black plastic or stainless-steel handle. Some have a metal scraper attached. They were sold at Walmart stores and on Walmart.com for between $1 and $28.
The model number is on the packaging or on a sticker or tag attached to the brush. These are the five recalled models:
- EX5607031616002: 16-inch Steel Fiber Scrub Brush and Scraper, sold January 2025 through August 2026
- EX5607031616003: Handheld Steel Fiber Scrub Brush with Ergonomic Handle, sold January 2025 through August 2026
- XG1310700206: 21-inch 3-Head Grill Brush, sold January 2022 through August 2026
- XG1136178597003: Long Handle Grill Brush with Scraper, 17.7 inches, sold January 2021 through August 2026
- XG1410700124: 10-Piece BBQ Grill Tools Set, sold December 2023 through August 2026
How To Get Your Money Back
Stop using the brush right away. Then contact Walmart for a full refund or a store credit. Walmart will ask you to bring the brush back to a store or throw it away.
Walmart’s phone line is 800-925-6278, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. The recall is also posted in the help section of Walmart.com. Anyone who bought the 10-piece set should know the set is on the list because of the wire brush inside it.
Why A Loose Bristle Is Dangerous
The trouble is the thin metal wires in the brush head. They can come off while you scrub and stay on the grill grate. From there a wire can end up in a burger or a piece of chicken, where it is very hard to see. A person who swallows one can be hurt badly enough inside that doctors may have to operate.
The recall notice lists Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, as the importer. The brushes were made in China. The safety agency gave the recall the number 27-010, which you can use to look it up.
Other Brands Have Recalled Wire Brushes Too
Walmart is not the only company to pull wire grill brushes this year. Federal safety officials announced a recall of 3.2 million Weber wire brushes in February, after nearly 40 reports of injuries, according to reports. Cuisinart recalled 1.7 million grill brushes in July. Nexgrill has recalled more than 10 million.
The reason given each time is the same: wire bristles can come off, stick to food, and hurt someone who swallows them. That holds for any wire brush hanging by the grill, whatever the brand.
For families who grill often, the lesson is simple. Look over the brush and the grill grate before you cook. If a wire brush has loose or missing bristles, replace it.
Sources:
cpsc.gov, abc27.com, consumeraffairs.com, wbtv.com, nbc26.com
