RFK Jr. Says Evidence Linking Tylenol to Autism Is “Not Sufficient,” Renewing National Debate
WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Oct. 29 that he does not have “sufficient” evidence to claim Tylenol causes autism — a reversal in tone coming just weeks after the White House urged pregnant women and young children to be cautious with the medication.
Kennedy, who serves as President Donald Trump’s top health official, told reporters that current research does not conclusively show Kenvue’s Tylenol causes autism, though he maintained that the drug should still be used sparingly during pregnancy. His remarks follow the president’s September statement that U.S. health agencies would soon recommend limiting Tylenol use.
“The causative association between Tylenol taken during pregnancy and the perinatal period is not sufficient to say it definitely causes autism. But it is very suggestive,” Kennedy said, citing animal studies, blood analyses, and observational research.
Texas Sues Kenvue Amid Rising Controversy
Kennedy’s comments came one day after the Texas attorney general sued Kenvue, the longtime manufacturer of acetaminophen, over alleged links to autism — claims that remain unproven in the scientific community.
Asked whether Kennedy was softening his position, Health and Human Services press secretary Emily G. Hilliard said: “It’s the same position the Secretary has had since the beginning.”
A report released April 15 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2022, 1 in 31 U.S. children were diagnosed with autism by age 8, up from 1 in 36 in 2020. Among boys, the rate was 1 in 20 — five times higher than reported in 2000.
Trump’s Stark Warnings: “Don’t Take Tylenol”
Neither Trump nor Kennedy is a medical doctor, yet both have made bold public statements about the medication.
“Don’t take Tylenol,” Trump repeated during a Sept. 22 press conference with Kennedy. “Fight like hell not to take it.”
While traveling to Asia on Oct. 26, the president again doubled down on social media:
“Pregnant women, DON’T USE TYLENOL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. DON’T GIVE TYLENOL TO YOUR CHILD FOR VIRTUALLY ANY REASON.”
Kennedy, meanwhile, has emphasized that his warnings stem from caution, not confirmed evidence. “It is not proof,” he told Trump during an Oct. 9 Cabinet meeting. “We’re doing the studies to make the proof.”
FDA Considers Label Changes but Acknowledges Conflicting Research
The Food and Drug Administration announced it would begin the process of issuing a physician notice and reviewing a possible safety label change for acetaminophen.
The agency noted that while some clinical and laboratory studies suggest a potential association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism, others show no link at all. It also stressed that untreated fever during pregnancy carries risks for both mother and fetus.
The Department of Health and Human Services similarly stated that, “given the conflicting literature and lack of clear causal evidence,” clinicians should continue to rely on their best medical judgment.
Kenvue Pushes Back, Warns of Risks to Maternal Health
Kennedy’s unproven claims initially caused a brief dip in shares of Kenvue — the consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023 — and sparked backlash from numerous physicians.
Kenvue has firmly defended Tylenol, arguing that no scientific evidence supports claims of a causal link to autism and warning that misleading suggestions could harm pregnant women.
The company has urged the FDA to reject calls for an autism warning label and recently hired a new marketing chief as the public debate intensifies.
“We agree with Secretary Kennedy that pregnant women should consult their healthcare professional before taking acetaminophen — that guidance is already on Tylenol’s label,” Kenvue said in a statement. “And we also agree there is no definitive causative association between acetaminophen and autism.”
Kenvue shares closed down 1.4% on Oct. 29.
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