 |
| Image source: cbsnews.com |
Almost everyone is a fan of a good barbecue, especially when it’s prepared on a holiday or weekend with the family. Everyone gets together, drinks beer, and has a good time. However, there are health risks that come with eating meat off a grill that has been cleaned with a steel-wire brush. Researchers have found out that the bristles of a wired brush can fall off onto the grill during the process of cleaning it. This leads to the food being contaminated with bristles. Once the food is ready for consumption, the bristles could become lodged in the mouth, tonsils, or throat, thereby potentially damaging the soft tissues in these areas. There have been over 1,600 reported injuries related to wire-bristle grill brushes since 2002.
Apart from damaging the upper alimentary tract, steel bristles could also lead to a more serious internal problem. There have even been cases where surgery was required so that the bristles could be removed. Awareness among doctors is also encouraged because they could order the wrong tests or be unable to grasp the proper patient history for a right diagnosis.
 |
| Image source: smchealth.org |
In order to prevent this situation, consumers are advised to carefully inspect their grills after cleaning them with wire-bristled brushes. When bristles on the brushes have become loose, the item must be discarded immediately. Lastly, consumers should also check their grilled meat thoroughly and remove any material that could lodge into their digestive tract.
Based in Irvine, California, Robert R. Beltran, MD is a specialist in otolaryngology and plastic surgery within the head and neck. Follow him on LinkedIn for more updates.
