What Is Going On With Gas Stoves?

Richard Trumka, Jr., a Commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), commented during an interview with Bloomberg in early January, that a gas stove ban is "on the table." The statement sparked rumors that the federal government might outlaw gas stoves.¹ While Commissioner Trumka's comments were not made on the Commission's behalf and CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric attempted to clarify that the Commission had no plans to ban gas stoves, questions about the Commission's intentions and potential overreach are still simmering.²

After his initial comments, Commissioner Trumka told CNN "everything's on the table," but noted that any CPSC action and any new regulations on gas stoves would only apply to new products.³ Recent studies indicating that gas stoves may pose serious health hazards may have prompted Commissioner Trumka's comments.⁴ Indeed, Commissioner Trumka told CNN that the CPSC is "still gathering information"⁵ and cited a new study in