January 8, 1992 Release # 92-041 Washington, DC--The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Micro-Dome of San Ramon, CA, had warned consumers of certain safety hazards associated with the use of the "Micro-Dome Food Preserver" manufactured by Micro-Dome and sold and distributed to consumers after August 1987. The CPSC has also urged consumers to destroy all food that has been preserved using a Micro-Dome Food Preserver. Consumers who sent in warranty registration cards should have received materials explaining how to return the product for a $50 rebate. However, the rebate program is no longer available and the company may be out of business. Do not use these products. Please discard or destroy these productsThe Micro-Dome Food Preserver is used in microwave ovens to preserve fruits, vegetables and prepared dishes. The appliance is a plastic container that can process one standard metal lidded canning jar at a time. Generally priced at $50, approximately 18,600 units were sold to customers. Micro-Dome informed the Commission that the top of the plastic container may blow off in the microwave if the vent stem or safety release becomes plugged. The pressurized plastic container may also explode during or after removal from the microwave, or if the container is hit or dropped. Furthermore, the plastic container may also crack and/or develop lines (called crazing) that could increase the risk of explosion. Explosion of a pressurized Micro-Dome containing hot water and food could cause severe injuries such as blindness and burns from flying fragments and liquids. Micro-Dome reported 29 incidents involving the cracking and/or crazing of the plastic container, eight incidents of the top blowing off, and four incidents of the vent being plugged without the blow plug releasing. One injury was reported involving a user who sustained minor burns when the top of the container blew off. The CPSC recommends that consumers not use the Micro-Dome Food Pr