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Microwave Ovens
In Question
The article below was
originally published in the Sun,
one of the UK's largest
circulation newspapers.
Microwaved Milk
Damages Babies' Brains
Mums who heat babies' milk in a
microwave oven are exposing them to brain and liver damage, scientists warn in
the leading medical journal The Lancet.
Researchers were shocked to find
the super-fast ovens turn proteins in milk into poisons which attack vital
organs.
Now they fear everyone who eats
micro waved food may be at risk because the same proteins are found in snacks
such as pizzas, curries, quiches and TV dinners.
Tests by children's doctors in
Austria showed that heating babies' milk at high speed in a microwave changed
its chemical structure abnormally. Protein-forming amino acids - found in dairy
products, processed foods, meat and fish - which normally strengthen cells in
the body, ATTACK it instead.
The brain, liver and kidneys are
particularly effected-with possible fatal results.
Dr. Gerd Lubec, who first
discovered the dangers, stormed: ``The manufacturers have done nothing. They
must carry out tests''.
Experts yesterday backed the
alarming warning to busy mums, who find microwaves a boon to heat milk quickly.
Advice
Leading pediatrician Dr.
Elizabeth Poskett, of Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, said: "Babies'
kidneys and liver have to work harder than adults, and just the slightest bit of
damage can be critical."
Top food scientist Professor
Richard Lacey, who predicted last year's killer salmonella and listeria
outbreaks, revealed microwave makers have NEVER carried out proper tests on
foods such as milk.
Professor Lacey, head of the
microbiology department at Leeds University, said: "No parent should heat their
baby's milk in a microwave- they should always put it in a pan.
"Everyone uses a microwave-but
none of us know what they are doing to our food.
"They are probably safe for
jacket potatoes, vegetables and soups- but I would NOT use them for anything
else, especially ready-made meals, or anything containing milk or cheese".
He advised anyone thinking of
buying a microwave NOT TO - at least until more tests are carried out.
Britain's 10 million
microwave-owning families could be at risk - almost half the population.
And The Lancet article will rock
the microwave industry, worth more than 200 million pounds a year.
But industry spokesmen said
yesterday they were NOT following up the scientists' discovery.
Jim Collis, spokesman for the
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances, admitted they
had NEVER tested the effect of microwaves on milk.
He said millions of pounds had
been spent checking if microwave doors leaked high frequency waves used to cook
food and liquids.
But firms had no plans to follow
up on the Austrian tests.
He said: "There is no point. The
tests bear no relation to cooking in the home."
Gordon Andrews, chairman of the
Microwave Association, said: "We do not think there is any need to carry out the
tests. We are very skeptical about them.
Last night, outraged MPs called
for the Government to launch an urgent inquiry.
Dr. David Clark, Labour food and
agriculture spokesman, said: "It is very alarming. The Government must order its
own tests immediately."
Last month Government tests
showed 32 out of 102 microwaves on sale FAILED to heat food thoroughly.
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"Science advances funeral
by funeral."
(Niels Bohr,
Nobel Prize-winning Physicist) |
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1000,000 A YEAR MAY END UP DEAD
Sun doctor Vernon Coleman fears
thousands could die EVERY YEAR from the effects of food cooked in microwaves. He
warns:
The news that microwave ovens may
turn the ingredients in usually safe foods into potentially toxic substances has
to be taken very seriously.
With 10 million microwaves in use
today, in a few years they could be killing more people than cigarettes. That's
currently 100,000 a year.
But it could be ten, 20 or even
30 years before the damage done by microwave ovens can be properly assessed.
I am absolutely appalled that
manufacturers have not fully tested them. Like everyone else I had assumed that
they would have conducted thorough tests to find out exactly how they affected
food BEFORE putting them on the market.
Microwaves are very different
from ordinary ovens. They cook using high frequency radio waves which penetrate
the food and make the water molecules inside whizz around at high speed,
creating heat.
Like most doctors I had assumed
that a device which worked in such a new and potentially hazardous way would
have been subjected to extensive tests before being put on the market. Almost
all other household products are fully tested for safety before being marketed -
and even then problems often appear later.
My advice to all microwave owners
would be to use their ovens only for heating vegetables and fruit and bread.
[Until such time as conclusive testing has been done, we only warm our plates in
the microwave oven. Ed.]
I would not recommend the use of
microwaves to cook any animal products such as meat, milk, cheese or eggs.
If you are thinking of buying a
microwave oven, DON'T
Wait until the manufacturers have
made the tests they should have carried out years ago.
(John Pullman, The Sun [UK],
January 18, 1990)
Click here
and/or
here if
you wish to read more about the dangers of microwave ovens.
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