People believe lot of fake news about what causes cancer. One of the most widely circulated belief on social media and messaging apps is that microwave ovens cause cancer.

The public’s endorsement of mythical cancer causes has risen over the years– which might be due to more information that’s now being circulated through messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Some people believe that microwaves make food radioactive, while others think that chemicals from the heated dishes will seep into food.

Dr Manoj Sharma, Professor of Radiation Oncology and former Director of the Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi says there is no scientific evidence to suggest that microwave oven can cause cancer.

“Microwave for cooking is in use for last more than half a century,” he told Health Analytics Asia. “I do not know any published data on this from the U.S. where it is maximally used.”

Prof Sharma points out that it is the microwave from mobile phones that has been rated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2B or 4B category because of its close human body, brain or ear contact.

There are no scientific studies to confirm the harmfulness of microwave ovens. The WHO says that “food cooked in a microwave oven is as safe, and has the same nutrient value, as food cooked in a conventional way”. A microwave uses electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of about 12 cm and microwave containers do not absorb radiation of such frequencies. As the American Cancer Society explains, “when microwaves are absorbed by food containing water, it causes the water molecules to vibrate, which produces heat. Microwaves do not use x-rays or gamma rays, and they do not make food radioactive. Microwave ovens can cook food, but they do not otherwise change the chemical or molecular structure of it.”

Internet is also flooded with rumours including one that Japan has decided to dispose of all the microwave ovens in the country by the end of 2020 because of its harmful effects. One Facebook post about this rumour was shared more than 25,000 times.

Later it turned out that the rumour originated on a Russian satire website Panorama.pub on 3 March 2019 which became viral on Facebook.

Take a part in curbing medical misinformation!

If you receive any video, photo or any kind of information that is doubtful or if you are not convinced of a post or message on the internet related to health and medicine, forward it to our mailbox at editor.haindia@gmail.com we’ll fact-check it for you.

Join us on Facebook or Twitter.