3.5 million Cuisinart metal wire-bristle grill brushes recalled due to a safety hazard

Amid BBQ season, federal officials warn against using any of the more than 3.5 million Cuisinart metal wire-bristle grill brushes affected by a safety-hazard recall that expanded this week.

Wire bristles have fallen off the brushes at least 54 times, leading to three reports of people ingesting the quills and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their throat or digestive system, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, citing reports and reviews. On Thursday, Conair recalled nearly 1.9 million of its Cuisinart brushes, adding to a July recall of about 1.7 million of the items.

"Cuisinart metal wire bristle grill brushes are being recalled because the bristles can detach from the brush and stick to the grill or food, posing an ingestion hazard and risk of serious internal injuries that could require surgery," a company website states.

Between June 2009 and March 2026, retailers such as Walmart, Ross and TJ Maxx sold the brushes, as well as online at Amazon and other sites, officials said.

The brushes, which sold for $8 to $20, came in an assortment of styles, including those with handles made out of plastic, stainless steel and wood, officials said. Some were sold as part of a kit, like the 13 Piece Wooden Handle Grill Tool Set. Recalled items include the Triple Bristle Grill Cleaning Brush, the Pizza Stone Cleaning Brush and the 18 Bamboo Cleaning Grill Brush. More on the brush numbers can be found at https://rb.gy/lq26c4.

Consumers who bought any of the recalled items can request a refund from Conair, which issue a full refund or credit at Cuisinart.com, along with 20% of the returned amount, company officials said. They added: "Consumers will be asked to discard the recalled grill brushes."

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.