Can Baby Feeding Equipment be Sterilised in the Domestic Microwave Oven?

DISCONCERTING reports concerning parental attempts to use the domestic microwave oven for the sterilisation of baby feeding equipment initiated an investigation into this subject. The potential use of the microwave oven for this purpose and its effectiveness was evaluated against conventional methods. Naturally con taminated bottles and teats were subjected to moist heat in a 600W, 2450 MHz microwave oven. The resultant degree of bacterial destruction was microbiologically assessed and compared with levels obtained under control conditions. Modes of operation which would provide for ease of performance and minimisation of possible error when carried out in the home were investigated. Overall, results indicated that a satisfactory 'microwave oven' sterilisation procedure could only be achieved reliably by adoption of the traditional boiling method, but that this method was uneconomical in both time and energy.