Some BBQ Pellets Contain More Than 20% Impurities – IU Study

Wood pellet grills have exploded in popularity in recent years. Despite their growth, and the fact that they’re used to cook food, many pellet manufacturers don’t follow rigorous quality standards. Researchers at Indiana University (IU) did a study that found BBQ pellets can contain an array of contaminants.

Limited research has been done about the relationship between the quality of wood pellets and their impact on human health. It’s an especially important topic for BBQ pellets because you breathe in smoke when cooking and the smoke is what’s adding flavor to your food. It stands to reason that you wouldn’t want impurities in pellets because, according to the IU research, “the presence of contaminants can lead to emissions of carcinogenic compounds and harmful particulate matter suspended in smoke.”