Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
A message has been viral on social media claiming that Japan has banned use of microwave ovens since they cause Cancer. We fact-checked and found that the claim is false.
The Claim
“Japan govt has decided to high dispose of all the *Microwave Ovens* in the country before this year end,” reads the viral Facebook message.
The message further quotes The American Physicians Association and asks people not to drink from microwave dishes as they may cause Cancer.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here. A screenshot is given below.
Fact Check
Has Japan banned microwave ovens?
No. Japan has not banned microwave ovens.
A simple search reveals that the message is viral since many years. There is no news that we could track in any Japanese media that reports the ban of microwave by the Govt.
Microwave ovens are further available in Amazon.jp for Japanese citizens.
Do microwaves cause Cancer?
No. There is no research that proves that microwave ovens can be the cause of Cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier clarified that microwave ovens are safe. The Cancer.Net mentions that, “It is a long-held misconception that using a microwave can lead to cancer.”
The USFDA also notes, “Microwaves are non-ionizing radiation, so they do not have the same risks as x-rays or other types of ionizing radiation.”