Frustrating environmental activists, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected a petition asking it to ban bisphenol-A (BPA) in food packaging and other containers likely to come in contact with food. The FDA stated that there wasnt enough scientific data to support a ban on the chemical, which is used in polycarbonate hard-plastic bottles and the lining of food and beverage cans. The Natural Resources Defense Council had originally petitioned the agency in 2008, citing animal studies of effects from BPA hormone-disruption as well as emerging human research. When the FDA didnt respond, the environmental group took it to court to force a decision. While rejecting a ban, the FDA supported further research into the safety of BPA and said its ruling wasnt the final word. In the meantime, some food companies-most recently, Campbells Soup-have announced that theyre seeking alternatives to BPA in their packaging.
