Bisphenol A — better known as “BPA” — is a chemical used in the epoxy resin linings of a lot of food and beverage containers. Studies have linked BPA to everything from increased risks of certain cancers to diabetes, reproductive abnormalities, and heart disease. But the Food and Drug Administration says there is not enough evidence yet to ban its use in food packaging.

Earlier today, in response to a petition submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council the FDA ruled that the available data “was not sufficient to persuade FDA… to initiate rulemaking to revoke the food additive approvals for BPA.”

The didn’t write off the possibility of a ban entirely, saying it would “continue in its broader and more comprehensive review of emerging data and information on BPA.”

But our labcoat-lovin’ brothers and sisters at Consumer Reports weren’t exactly overjoyed by the news.

“We’re disappointed with the FDA’s decision,” said Jean Halloran, the director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union. “We think there’s ample scientific evidence about the health risks of BPA for the agency to take action now and ban it from food and drink packaging.”

Ami Gadhia, senior policy counsel for Consumers Union, said “We’re going to keep pressing the FDA to ban BPA. We also support congressional efforts to take BPA off the market entirely.”

Back in 2009, Consumer Reports tested canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna, and green beans, and found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods tested contained some BPA.

Interestingly enough, this announcement comes the same day that the FDA touted its new requirement for tobacco companies to providing detailed accounts on the levels of a wide variety of toxins in their products.