Expert Grill charcoal
2 reports to CPSC, the latest made May 11, 2021. A report isn’t a recall.
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At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 2reports to CPSC
- May 11, 2021the latest report was made
- Apr 19, 2018the earliest
- 1with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Expert Grill
- Maker
- Walmart Stores Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- CharcoalCPSC’s product type: Charcoal (code 917), in Yard & Garden: Grills & Accessories
Other ways the reports write the brand (1)
“Expert grill charcoal briquettes”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| May 2021 | 1 |
| April 2018 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Hospital admission 1 CPSC: Injury, Hospital Admission
- Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
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Emergency room Made May 11, 2021, sent to the company May 24, 2021, published by CPSC Jun 8, 2021
The product, in the report: Expert grill charcoal briquettes Model unknown
Caller reporting that the charcoal after it was burning for a while he went to check on it and it started exploding about 12 feet from where he was standing, dispersing particles everywhere. He stated that a projectile object hit him in both eyes causing injuries. Caller stated that he went to the Memorial Hermann hospital emergency care TX, where he was treated and released for follow-up.
Caller stated that the manufacturer was not contacted as yet.
Caller feels that this product is a safety hazard and should be recalled.
- Model
- unknown
- Bought from
- Walmart, Texas
- Bought
- Apr 24, 2021, about then
- Where
- Woodlands, Texas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 62, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Expert grill charcoal briquettes, made or sold by Walmart Stores Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
-
Hospital admission Made Apr 19, 2018, sent to the company Jul 27, 2018, published by CPSC Aug 10, 2018
The product, in the report: Instant light charcoal
On Saturday April 14th my son was grilling hot dogs using Expert Grill Instant Lighting Charcoal which we believe may have led to him having a seizure. He cooked with this product around 1-2 P.M. at his grandmother’s house across the street from mine. I returned home from work around 6 p.m. and as I walked to her house I noticed a strong odor that smelled like fireworks, particularly the black snake fireworks that came in a small tablet and when lit would grow into an ash snake. This odor was coming from the grill that was used 4 hours earlier. I asked my son, daughter and their mother if they noticed the strong smell and they agreed it didn’t smell like charcoal normally does. With the exception of my son everybody was inside while the charcoal was being lit but did notice the smell after the food was done and they came outside. A couple of people, including my daughter, stated that the food had an odd taste but didn’t think much more of it. A hot dog was prepared for me and later as I got it out of the fridge and re heated in the microwave I could smell the odd odor once again and after taking a bite I even tasted it on the food so I threw it away. I asked them what kind of charcoal was used and if they found anything odd about it when they opened the bag and they commented that the coals went up in flames extremely quick unlike other charcoal that takes a little time to light and a couple of minutes to be fully engulfed. Early the next morning my son had a violent seizure that required a call to 911 with an ambulance transport to the hospital. He had a blood and urine test to rule out drugs plus two brain scans to look for physical problems. He was then transported to another hospital where he was given an MRI and EEG with these tests requiring him to stay in the hospital overnight. All of the tests came back negative and he was released the following day though per Virginia law he cannot drive for six months. The neurologist said though they ruled out drugs, brain tumors and any other physical issue but could have been an external source that triggered the seizure. After we returned home from the hospital I started thinking about what could have caused this and the first thing that came to mind was the charcoal. Since charcoal doesn’t seem to list the ingredients I found out the ingredient that causes the same unique smell from the coals he cooked with and the black snake fireworks, what I found was a chemical named Naphthalene which is known to cause seizures. My son was grilling on a small table top grille that was placed on the carport next to his chair. He was sitting next to it during the entire time the coals were burning in addition to being the one that cooked the food so he had maximum exposure to the fumes. I purchased an identical bag of this charcoal the day after returning from the hospital and what I found was the typical smell charcoal has in addition to it taking a bit of time to light unlike the bag he used. This appears to possibly be isolated to the first bag of charcoal. Though all of the coals were used there is enough small fragments left in the bottom of the bag that hopefully can be tested for Naphthalene or other dangerous chemicals that can cause seizures. Please advise me on how to get this tested and the direction I need to proceed in.
- UPC
- 016800510335
- Bought from
- Wal Mart
- Bought
- Apr 13, 2018
- Where
- Draper, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 18, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Expert Grill, made or sold by Walmart Stores Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Hospital Admission
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.