Consumers have petitioned Campbell's for the move away from BPA (bisphenol A) because of worries about the chemical. BPA, used to make hard, clear plastic, has been linked in human and animal studies to heart disease, early-onset puberty, behavioral problems, diabetes and breast and prostate cancer, especially at low doses.

In January 2010, the FDA announced it had some concerns about the effect of the chemical on the development of infants and young children. Government regulators promised a reassessment by June 2011, a deadline which came and went with no results.

The Natural Resources Defense Council sued the FDA in August for missing its deadline to rule on the safety of the chemical. The FDA agreed to announce its decision before April 1 in exchange for the environmental group dropping the lawsuit.

"Campbell's decision to move away from BPA is a victory for consumers, who have been demanding this change," said Gretchen Lee Salter, policy manager at the Breast Cancer Fund.

Still, Salter said, the company should come up with a specific time to eliminate the chemical's use.

"To truly be an industry leader, the company now needs to fully disclose the timeline for the phase-out and the alternatives that will be used," she said.

A study of canned goods last fall paid for by the fund found the highest levels of BPA were in Campbell's products marketed to children. Campbell's Disney Princess and Toy Story soups tested the highest.

Chemical makers maintain that BPA is safe for all use but major baby bottle manufacturers stopped using the chemical in 2008. Eleven states, including Wisconsin, have banned BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups.

Canada, the European Union and Turkey have banned the chemical in baby bottles. Japan has replaced BPA in all can liners.

 From the March 7, 2012, Prepared Foods' Daily News.