WASHINGTON —The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a petition from environmentalists that would have banned the plastic-hardening chemical bisphenol-A from all food and drink packaging, including plastic bottles and canned food.
The agency said Friday that petitioners did not present compelling scientific evidence to justify new restrictions on the much-debated chemical, commonly known as BPA, though federal scientists continue to study the issue.
The Natural Resources Defense Council’s petition was the latest move by public-safety advocates to prod regulators into taking action against the chemical, which is found in many items, CDs, canned food and dental sealants.
About 90 percent of Americans have traces of BPA in their bodies. Some scientists suspect it can lead to cancer and other diseases.
