Surgeons Say "Throw Out Your Grill Brush" After Seeing An Increase In Injuries

Jul 19, 2019 by apost team

When a Toronto family decided to have some burgers out on the grill for supper one night they had no idea the nice evening would end with them in the ER. After six-year-old Anthony Fiore took a bite out his burger, he began crying in pain. 

Anthony's mother, Nadia told CBC News, "We knew something was wrong, and he was in extreme pain because he was crying," They discovered in an x-ray that a small wire from their grill brush was lodged inside him. The Fiore family is demanding that wire-bristle grill brushes be banned for purchase.

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Doctors had to perform surgery to remove the bristle which was lodged inside Anthony's throat, however, the bristle still posed one more problem even after it was removed. Doctors predicted Anthony would get a throat infection from the bacteria that was on the little wire, and he did. Surgeons and doctors are urging the public to "throw out" their grill brushes because they can easily stick to barbecues and then attach to food without being noticed. 

Anthony's case is not alone, Nova Scotia otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) told CBC News that surgeons have seen a big increase in patients needing emergency surgery to remove the barbecue brush wires that have become lodged in their throats after eating from the grill. And what's worse is medical professionals haven't figured a "surefire" way of removing them. 

As for the Fiore family, they have not had a barbecue since her son's incident. The mother said Anthony is shaken up from his stint in the hospital and has now become fearful from eating anything off the grill. "I hope to have these brushes removed from the shelves, have them banned," Nadia said to CBC News. 

Take a look at the video below for alternative ways to clean your grill without a wire-bristled brush. 

We are glad Anthony is safe from this experience. Tell us below if you or someone you know has had a similar experience while grilling. Make sure to spread the word about this story so others can be warned of the potential dangers of grill brushes.