David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Consumer Product Update: Have you inspected your wire barbecue brush lately?
Health Canada: Healthy Canadians
May 17, 2018
Millions of Canadians enjoy using their barbecue, especially during the warm summer months. Through repeated use, the wire brushes that many people use to clean their barbecues can lose their bristles. If ingested, these bristles can cause serious health problems.
What you should do
To minimize the risk of issues with your wire barbecue brush, you should:
Report health or safety concerns
Health Canada advises consumers to check the Government of Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts website regularly for any recalled products and to report any consumer product-related health or safety concerns.
Public enquiries
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada is working with the Retail Council of Canada to commission the Standards Council of Canada to develop a voluntary standard for wire barbecue brushes. The voluntary standard will establish ways to reduce the risk that loose bristles will cause injuries to Canadians by defining safety criteria, such as labelling and testing, for these products.
Health Canada will continue to monitor this issue and will take action as required.
For more information
Barbecue safety
Health Canada: Healthy Canadians
May 17, 2018
Millions of Canadians enjoy using their barbecue, especially during the warm summer months. Through repeated use, the wire brushes that many people use to clean their barbecues can lose their bristles. If ingested, these bristles can cause serious health problems.
What you should do
To minimize the risk of issues with your wire barbecue brush, you should:
- regularly inspect your brush for signs of damage;
- inspect grills and barbecued food for loose bristles;
- regularly replace your brush to help avoid problems associated with wear; and
- stop using your brush if bristles come loose or stick to the grill.
Report health or safety concerns
Health Canada advises consumers to check the Government of Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts website regularly for any recalled products and to report any consumer product-related health or safety concerns.
Public enquiries
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada is working with the Retail Council of Canada to commission the Standards Council of Canada to develop a voluntary standard for wire barbecue brushes. The voluntary standard will establish ways to reduce the risk that loose bristles will cause injuries to Canadians by defining safety criteria, such as labelling and testing, for these products.
Health Canada will continue to monitor this issue and will take action as required.
For more information
Barbecue safety