Health Canada has recalled Cuisinart metal wire-bristle grill brushes supplied inside two grill-tool sets sold by Crate & Barrel Canada. Small metal bristles can detach, remain on the grill or food, and be swallowed. The agency warns that ingestion can cause serious internal injuries that may require surgery.
Stop using the brush while you identify it
Set the wire brush aside immediately. Do not keep cleaning with it while checking the handle, package or receipt. The recall applies to the brush included in either of the two sets below; it does not say that every Cuisinart grill tool or every brush with the brand name is affected.
The two affected grill sets
- Cuisinart 20-Piece Grill Set: UPC 817096012967, SKU 520486. The included brush has a stainless-steel handle.
- Cuisinart 10-Piece Grill Tools: UPC 890084002799, SKU 611997. The included brush has a wood handle.
Health Canada says “Cuisinart” is stamped on the brush handle. Match the product name, handle description, UPC and SKU where available. A visual resemblance alone is not enough to identify a recalled product.
Who may have one?
The retailer reported that 679 affected sets were sold in Canada from December 2017 through March 2026. Because the sales period spans more than eight years, check older barbecue-tool storage, seasonal bins, cottages and sets received as gifts—not only recent purchases. A missing box or receipt does not make the brush safe; the handle and purchase history can still help identify it.
What Health Canada says to do
- Immediately stop using the recalled brush.
- Record the set name, UPC or SKU and photograph the brush handle.
- Contact Crate & Barrel Canada for a refund through its official website or by phone at 800-451-8217.
- Keep the retailer's confirmation and follow its current return or disposal instructions.
Do not sell, donate or give the recalled brush away. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits recalled consumer products from being redistributed, sold or given away in Canada.
Check the grill before the next meal
Stopping use prevents additional bristles from detaching, but it does not establish whether an earlier cleaning left wire behind. Before using the grill again, inspect the cooking surface carefully and clean it using a method permitted by the grill manufacturer that does not involve the recalled brush. Do not rely on simply wiping food after cooking as a substitute for removing the recalled tool and checking the cooking surface.
If an incident may have occurred
Health Canada reported no Canadian incidents or injuries as of August 26, 2026, but that does not reduce the need to stop using the brush. Report a product-related health or safety incident through Health Canada's Consumer Product Incident Report form. If someone may have swallowed a wire bristle or has concerning symptoms after eating grilled food, seek advice from an appropriate health professional or emergency service; this publication cannot diagnose an injury.
United States readers
This article covers Health Canada recall RA-82577 and the Canadian refund route. It does not establish that the same remedy applies in the United States. US owners should stop using a matching brush while checking, then search the CPSC recall database and contact the retailer or manufacturer using independently verified details. Do not present a Canadian recall as a US CPSC action.