Popular Grill Product, Sold in Louisiana, Send 5 to the Hospital

(KMDL-FM) When you picture in your mind what a great cookout would be, you probably can use your imagination to smell the burgers, hear the laughter, and feel the anxiety of an approaching ambulance because one of your grill gadgets has just caused a major injury.

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That scenario, as awkward as it may seem, has been the reality for more than a few families as of late. We're assuming you're okay with the laughter and the smell, but you probably have questions about what an ambulance is for and why people need one at a barbecue.

Popular Grill Gadget Sends Consumers to the Hospital - Recall Announced

Unfortunately, the gadget involved in the medical emergencies is found in many homes, including those with a barbecue grill. It's a popular wire brush that is used to help scrape and clean the grates. The problem with the brush is that it sometimes loses its wire bristles, and that is where the medical emergencies come into play.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of six brushes made by Nexgrill. The models have been recalled for the reason we described above.

According to the CPSC recall announcement, the wire bristles from the brush can come off during use. They can then stick to the food that is being prepared on the grill. In more than a few cases, the wire bristles have been ingested, resulting in at least five cases where consumers had to visit a medical professional for assistance.

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Why Are Wire Grill Brushes Sending People to the Hospital?

In most cases, the wire bristles were either stuck in a consumer's throat or had to be removed from the person's digestive tract. Neither of which will lead to guests complimenting you on your barbecue.

The brushes have been on the market for more than a decade. They were sold at Home Depot stores and online between 2015 and 2026. The brushes involved in the recall range in price from $5 to $15, and I am willing to bet that if you cook out more than once a year, you have one or one that is similar.

Which Grill Brushes Sold at Home Depot Have Been Recalled?

Here is the product list breakdown:

Model Number   Brush Description                                   Distribution Dates
530-0024           19-Inch Grill Brush                                    2015-2026
530-0024G        Grill Cleaning Brush with Scraper             2022-2026
530-0034           Long Handle Grill Brush                            2015-2026
530-0039           Grill Brush and Scraper                             2015-2026
530-0041           Grill Brush with Scrub Pad                        2015-2026
530-0042           Wood Handle Grill Brush                          2015-2021

If you have one of these brushes, you are strongly encouraged not to use it. If you're interested in a refund, you'll need to contact Nexgrill. Here's how to do that.  They can call 800-942-1498 or visit https://nexgrill.mktpoint.com/recall. Refunds will be issued as gift cards.

READ MORE: 4 Recalled Children's Products You Should No Longer Have at Home

Certain stipulations must be followed in order to obtain a refund. Consumers must register online with a photo of their grill brush showing a registration code and their initials. After confirmation, they’ll receive instructions on how to properly dispose of the product.

And since we're changing things up for the better in the backyard ahead of the summer grilling season, let's do these too.