Addressing claims of White House planning to ban gas ovens, burners

Reporter: Kellie Miller Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:

 

The rumors about gas ovens and burners are heating up. The appliances are in roughly one-third of U.S. kitchens, and some now claim the White House is coming to take them away.

The most recent rumor stems from a statement made by Fox News talk show host Sean Hannity on Jan. 9.

“Now, not only is Biden coming for your paycheck, but he’s coming for your stove. You heard me right,” Hannity said during his show. “The White House is now attempting to ban all gas ovens and burners; that’s like half the country.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is researching gas stove emissions and looking for ways to reduce air quality hazards. However, the agency is not seeking a ban on gas stoves.

Gas stovetops don’t come without risks. In fact, multiple members of Congress including Rep. Gwen Moore from Wisconsin wrote a letter to the CPSC in December saying these emissions present real health risks to millions.

In addition, CBS News found a 2022 study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology that said U.S. gas stoves put 2.6 million tons of methane into the air annually.

Regardless, Commission chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric made it clear that his team is not seeking to ban gas kitchen appliances.

He wrote, in part, “CPSC is researching gas emissions in stoves and exploring new ways to address health risks…This is part of our product safety mission–learning about hazards and working to make products safer.”

It’s important to note that bans and regulations apply only to new products. In other words, items that are already in people’s homes are there to stay.

Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric announced that the commission will seek public input on this issue in the spring.

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