Statistics show they cause just 0.0015 per cent of all emergency department admissions but, for safety reasons, wire-bristle barbecue brushes used on grills across the country could be in for an overhaul. On Wednesday, commissioned by Health Canada, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) began the task of implementing a new minimum standard for the tools. The move follows cases that involved people accidentally ingesting dangerous bristles that had come loose from brushes, stuck to grills and ended up in food. “Health Canada is aware of incidents of wire barbecue brush bristles coming loose and, in some cases, being ingested, causing serious health problems,” Health Canada spokesperson Sindy Souffront said by email. Last year, Health Canada decided not to ban wire-bristle brushes, but identified 28 injuries they had reportedly caused since 2004.

Source: National Post April 27, 2018 02:48 UTC