The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that the chemical traces found in baby bottles, canned food and other such items did not pose any threat to infants or adults. The FDA said it will hold a public meeting next month to assess the safety of a chemical found in baby bottles and many other products and welcomed public inputs on the issue.

Environmental groups say the chemical “bisphenol A” that is used can be harmful to children and animals. Previously European regulators, the plastics industry and the FDA had declared the chemical to be safe but agreed to reassess the opinion after a report by the federal National Toxicology Program, a part of the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health, was issued. The draft report has expressed fears that bisphenol A could cause neural and behavioral problems and it might reduce survival and birth weight in fetuses along with other problems in infants and children.

Bisphenol A is a plastic hardening chemical that is used to make shatterproof bottles and seal canned food. Commonly known as BPA, this chemical is widely used in all polycarbonate bottles ranging from water bottles to baby bottles and also used to line cans including infant formula cans.

Consumer safety groups have highlighted previous studies which show the chemicals effect on the body’s ability to absorb the hormone estrogen, which is essential in the development of young bodies. In April Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill to ban BPA in children’s products and Canada is trying to follow the suit. California, New Jersey and 10 other states are toying with bills to restrict use of the chemical.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 93% of Americans have traces of BPA in their urine, though the FDA says the levels are thousands of times lower than what would be dangerous for adults or children.

More than six million pounds of bisphenol are produced in the United States each year by Dow Chemical, Bayer and other manufacturers and many lawmakers are anxiously waiting for the agency to complete its review and issue its assessment.