( CNN ) -- Parents should take precautions to minimize infants ' exposure to the chemical Bisphenol-A , the Food and Drug Administration said Friday in an announcement that stopped short of saying there is a definite health risk from the chemical . In guidelines published on its Web site , the FDA said it has `` some concern '' about the safety of BPA , and supports efforts by industry to remove BPA from infant bottles and feeding cups . Dr. Josh Sharfstein , deputy FDA commissioner , said the agency is trying to determine whether it has the legal authority to quickly force such products off the market if manufacturers do n't do it voluntarily . According to Sharfstein , the six largest makers of infant bottles and cups already use alternatives to BPA . Bisphenol-A is found in many products , but has drawn the most attention for its use in linings for canned food and infant formula , and as a hardener in plastic baby bottles and toys . A handful of states and cities including Minnesota , Connecticut , Massachusetts and Chicago , Illinois , have passed laws in some form banning BPA in products meant for children . The new position is a partial reversal of the FDA 's declaration in 2008 that BPA has no adverse effects . That announcement came under fire from environmental groups that said it relied too heavily on industry-funded research . Since then , the agency says on its Web site , `` recent studies have reported subtle effects of low doses of BPA in laboratory animals . While BPA is not proven to harm children or adults , these newer studies have led federal health officials to express some concern about the safety of BPA . '' The new position brings the FDA into line with guidance from the National Toxicology Program , which in its own 2008 report said there is `` some concern '' for BPA 's effects on the brain , behavior and prostate gland , in developing fetuses , infants and children . Other studies have found a possible link to diabetes and cardiovascular disease , but the authors of those studies say it 's not clear the problems were actually caused by BPA . At a news conference Friday , FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg said further research is needed `` to determine if and when further action is needed . '' The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has been allotted $ 30 million to study the health effects of BPA . Hamburg said that research would likely be complete in 18 to 24 months . In a separate review , the Environmental Protection Agency is weighing whether to list BPA as a chemical of concern under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act , which would trigger a formal process to develop possible restrictions on BPA . At the news conference , Hamburg and Sharfstein urged parents to keep the risk in perspective , saying the benefits of nutritious infant formula outstrip any potential danger from BPA . Other guidance includes : . • Discarding scratched or worn bottles and cups , which aside from harboring germs might also release small amounts of BPA . • Being careful when heating formula , as boiling or very hot liquid might cause the release of BPA into infant formula . • Checking labels to ensure that only microwave-safe products are used in the microwave , and dishwasher-safe products are put in the dishwasher , to avoid leakage . In taking a middle ground , the FDA managed to frustrate both industry and consumer safety groups . Steven Hentges , a scientist with the American Chemistry Council 's global study group on BPA , said the guidance would `` confuse consumers , '' while a scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council said the move was `` too little , too late . '' Hentges painted the FDA decision as a victory , saying the announcement reflects scientific consensus `` that these products continue to be safe for use . '' However , he complained that there was no scientific basis for the advice to discard older bottles and cups and insisted that studies have failed to find evidence of actual harm from BPA . Sara Janssen , a scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council , agreed the advice was confusing , but said the FDA should have gone further and banned the use of BPA . Sonya Lunder , a senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group and a longtime BPA critic , says mothers can largely avoid BPA by using powdered formula instead of liquid . But she welcomed Friday 's announcement . `` This is a huge step forward . The Bush administration wanted to close the books and declare this safe , and now that 's not going to happen , '' Lunder said .
Bisphenol - A , abbreviated as BPA , is found in many products including baby bottles . FDA stops short of saying there is a definite health risk from the product . FDA says FDA goes to far ; consumer groups say BPA should be banned .