SEPTEMBER 2016

FDA Consumer Update

5 Tips for Using Your

Microwave Oven Safely
D
id you know the U.S. Food and Drug Administra- Safe Microwave
Safe MicrowaveOven
Use Use
tion regulates microwave ovens? Microwave oven
manufacturers must certify their products meet ON
safety performance standards created and enforced by
the FDA to protect the public health.
Microwave ovens are generally safe when used cor-
rectly. But people have experienced burns, and in rare
cases, other injuries from microwave radiation, par-
ticularly in cases involving improper use or mainte-
nance. Therefore, always use your oven properly (read
on for tips) and maintain it as recommended by the
user manual.
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How Microwaves Cook
First, know that microwaves—the actual waves pro-
duced by these ovens—are a type of electromagnetic ra- Unsafe Microwave
Unsafe MicrowaveOven
Use Use
diation. These waves cause water molecules in food to
vibrate. These vibrations, in turn, produce the heat that ON
cooks food.
The waves are produced by a vacuum tube within the
oven called a magnetron. They are reflected within the
oven’s metal interior; can pass through glass, paper,
plastic, and similar materials; and are absorbed by food.
Microwaves are a kind of non-ionizing radiation.
They do not have the same risks as x-rays or other
types of ionizing radiation. (Ionizing radiation is a
more energetic type of radiation that can cause chang-
es to human cells.) If theGeniendae
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Most injuries related to microwave ovens are the result ipsandusam
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of heat-related burns from hot containers, overheated
foods, or exploding liquids. posure to large amounts of microwave radiation leak-
Most injuries do not relate to radiation. That said, ing through openings such as gaps in the microwave
there have been very rare instances of radiation injury oven seals. However, FDA regulations require that mi-
due to unusual circumstances or improper servicing. crowave ovens are designed to prevent these high-level
In general, these radiation injuries are caused by ex- radiation leaks. In fact, manufacturers must certify

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SEPTEMBER 2016
FDA Consumer Update

that their microwave ovens comply with specific FDA agency also recommends that you do not use an oven
safety standards. These standards require any radia- if the door doesn’t close firmly or is bent, warped, or
tion given off by ovens to be well below the level known otherwise damaged.
to cause injury. 5. Don’t use ovens that seem to operate when
Although some people have been concerned that mi- the door is open. The FDA monitors these appli-
crowave ovens could cause interference with certain elec- ances for radiation safety issues and has received in-
tronic cardiac pacemakers, today’s pacemakers are de- creasing reports about microwave ovens that appear to
signed to shield against this interference. You can consult stay on—and operate—when the door is open. The FDA
with your health care provider if you still have concerns. recommends that you immediately stop using a micro-
wave oven if this happens.
Safety Tips “A failure in the door sensing switch can sometimes
1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for allow the fan, light, and/or turntable to operate when
use. Directions in the user manual provide recom- the door is open. But safety interlocks in microwave ov-
mended operating procedures and safety precautions. ens are intended to stop the magnetron from generating
For instance, you should not use some microwave ovens microwaves,” explains Ting Song, Ph.D., a biomedical
when they are empty. In addition, you should not heat engineer with the FDA’s Magnetic Resonance and Elec-
water or liquids longer than the manufacturer’s instruc- tronic Products branch. “When interlocks work normal-
tions and recommendations. ly, the magnetron will not operate. However, since each
2. Use microwave-safe containers. Use cook- oven design is different, consumers cannot be 100 per-
ware specially manufactured for use in the microwave cent sure that microwave radiation is not being emitted
oven. Generally, you should not use metal pans or alu- in this situation.”
minum foil because microwaves reflect off them, caus-
ing food to cook unevenly and possibly damaging the How to Report Problems
oven. And you should not use some plastic containers In the FDA’s experience, most microwave ovens that are
because heated food can cause them to melt. The FDA tested show little or no detectable microwave leakage.
recommends using glass, ceramic, and plastic contain- However, if your microwave shows signs of leakage or
ers labeled for microwave oven use. damage, or you suspect a radiation problem, you can con-
3. Avoid super-heated water. “Super-heated” tact the oven manufacturer. Manufacturers are required
means water is heated beyond its boiling temperature, to tell the FDA about various issues, including defects in
without signs of boiling. If you use a microwave microwave ovens, lack of compliance with federal stan-
oven to heat water in a clean cup beyond the boiling dards, and accidental radiation occurrences.
temperature, a slight disturbance or movement may You also can report any suspected radiation-related
cause the water to violently explode out of the cup. problems or injuries directly to the FDA by completing
There have been reports of serious skin burns or and mailing the Accidental Radiation Occurrence Report
scalding injuries around people’s hands and faces as a form, available at:
result of this phenomenon.
Adding ingredients such as instant coffee or sugar http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/
to water before heating greatly reduces the risk of hot- ReportsManualsForms/Forms/UCM236066.pdf
water eruption. Also remember to follow the manufac-
turer’s heating instructions.
4. Check for leakage. There should be little cause For more consumer health information, visit
for concern about excess microwave radiation leaking www.fda.gov/consumer
from these ovens unless the door hinges, latch, or seals
are damaged. The FDA recommends looking at your Subscribe to receive Consumer Updates via email at
oven carefully to see if any of these issues exist. The www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html

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