That backyard burger might come with an unwanted extra: a tiny piece of metal. Weber has recalled more than 3.2 million wire-bristle grill brushes after reports that metal bristles can break off, cling to grates and end up in food, sometimes with serious medical consequences. The recall covers brushes sold over more than a decade, affecting grills across the country just as cookout season ramps up. Owners are being urged to stop using the affected brushes immediately and sign up for replacements.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the recall, announced Thursday, covers roughly 3.2 million metal wire-bristle grill brushes and lists multiple model numbers. The agency says small metal bristles can detach from the brushes, stick to the grill or food, and pose an ingestion hazard that in severe cases can require surgery. The commission’s notice says Weber is aware of at least 38 reports describing bristles detaching, including four cases where people swallowed metal pieces and sought medical treatment.
According to the recall page from Weber, the company will replace affected brushes with a cold-cleaning nylon-bristle model and asks owners to discard the recalled brush after their replacement request is approved. Weber has set up an online registration form and a recall hotline at 877-597-9588 for questions about eligibility and shipping. The company notes the brushes retailed for about $10 to $17, depending on the model.
Which Brushes Are Included
The recall covers six model numbers: 6277, 6278, 6463, 6464, 6493, and 6494, in brushes measuring 12 to 21 inches with either black plastic or bamboo handles, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Distribution dates vary by model, with some sold as far back as 2011 and others as recently as 2026. The agency says the brushes were sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Target, Amazon and Weber.com and have also appeared on resale sites.
Why Wire Bristles Are Dangerous
Medical experts have documented cases where swallowed bristles perforated throats and intestines, sometimes requiring surgery, and warn that these thin wires are hard to spot in food. Reporting from AARP and a past account in CBS News describe patients who needed medical intervention after ingesting bristles. Those incidents underscore why regulators treat loose metal bristles as more than a minor annoyance.
How To Check Your Brush And What To Do
Stop using any wire-bristle brush that matches the recalled photos and carefully inspect your grill and any recently cooked food for stray wires. Photograph the brush and register for a replacement through Weber, or call the company’s hotline at 877-597-9588 for help. If you think you may have swallowed a bristle or develop sharp throat or abdominal pain, seek immediate medical attention and bring any packaging or photos you have. Consumers can also file a report with the federal database at SaferProducts.gov to alert regulators and help track injuries.
The recall is a blunt reminder to double-check the tools in your grill shed: tiny pieces of wire can turn a backyard burger into a serious emergency. If your brush matches one of the model numbers, stop using it, register for Weber’s replacement and consider switching to non-metal cleaning methods like nylon bristles, grill scrapers or steam-cleaning. For full recall details and photos, refer to the recall page from Weber and the federal recall notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
