Health agencies and experts worldwide are pushing back against recent claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that acetaminophen—known as Tylenol in the United States and paracetamol elsewhere—used during pregnancy is linked to a "very increased risk" of autism in children. The controversy erupted after Trump announced on September 22, 2025, that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would begin notifying physicians about this alleged association, sparking swift and forceful responses from the medical and scientific communities across the globe.
According to BBC and CNN, Trump’s announcement at a press conference, flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sent shockwaves through both the public and professional circles. Trump stated, "Effective immediately, the FDA will be notifying physicians that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism." He further suggested that women should limit Tylenol use during pregnancy "if you can't tough it out," despite the lack of robust scientific evidence supporting his claims.
Within hours, leading regulatory bodies in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom issued statements reaffirming the safety of acetaminophen during pregnancy. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) declared, "There is currently no new evidence that would require changes to the current EU recommendations for use of acetaminophen," as reported by Reuters. Steffen Thirstrup, EMA’s chief medical officer, emphasized, "Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women. Our advice is based on a rigorous assessment of the available scientific data and we have found no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children."
The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) echoed this sentiment. Dr. Alison Cave, the agency’s chief safety officer, stated, "There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children." The MHRA advised pregnant women to continue following existing National Health Service (NHS) guidance and consult healthcare professionals with any concerns.
Australia’s chief medical officer and the Therapeutic Goods Administration joined the chorus, stating, "Robust scientific evidence shows no causal link between the use of paracetamol in pregnancy and autism or ADHD, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting these claims." Spain’s Ministry of Health also supported paracetamol’s use during pregnancy, with Health Minister Mónica García criticizing Trump’s remarks as misinformation. "Trump's new crusade is against paracetamol during pregnancy, ignoring all scientific evidence. This denialism only sows alarm and misinformation. It's better to listen to health authorities than to the person who suggested injecting bleach against COVID," García wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The World Health Organization (WHO) weighed in as well, with a spokesperson telling Reuters that the evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism "remains inconsistent." The Autism Science Foundation in the U.S. added that any association is based on "limited, conflicting, and inconsistent science." Similarly, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists asserted there is "no clear evidence" supporting the claim.
Backing up these positions, a major Swedish study published in 2024 followed nearly 2.5 million children over 25 years and found that acetaminophen use during pregnancy did not increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. As reported by CNN, the EMA had already reviewed available studies in 2019 and found the results "inconclusive," establishing no link between paracetamol and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Despite these reassurances, Trump’s remarks triggered widespread public anxiety. Britain’s National Childbirth Trust (NCT), a leading antenatal education charity, reported a "huge increase" in people searching for information about paracetamol and pregnancy since the president’s announcement. Katherine Walker, NCT’s service development manager, told CNN, "There is a huge amount of concern from parents who are pregnant now, but also who’ve already had babies and children who are reflecting on their experiences in pregnancy," adding that rigorous testing has found no evidence that paracetamol causes autism.
Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, reassured women that "acetaminophen in pregnancy should be used when indicated, based on science, based on studies." She lamented, "We have to base our decisions on science, and I think that’s what we’re losing with the rhetoric that’s coming from the United States." Experts further warned that untreated fevers during pregnancy can themselves pose serious risks, including miscarriage, birth defects, and high blood pressure, making safe pain and fever management crucial.
Some research has explored potential associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes, but the science remains unsettled. A peer-reviewed analysis published in BioMed Central in August 2025 reviewed 46 studies and found "strong evidence of an association" between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. However, the authors were careful to clarify that their research could not demonstrate causation and recommended "judicious acetaminophen use, under medical guidance." Dr. Carissa Cascio, a senior scientist at the KU Life Span Institute, told KWCH, "You cannot conclude from that association that Tylenol causes autism by any stretch of the imagination." She explained that while autism diagnoses have increased dramatically over the last 30 years, Tylenol usage during pregnancy has remained stable, undermining the argument for a direct causal link.
Dr. Cascio attributed the rise in autism cases to improved detection methods and a broader definition of autism, not to environmental causes like acetaminophen use. "We have really improved our ability to detect autism. We have much better tools now over the last 30 years than we’ve ever had before and that’s allowed us to detect a lot more people," she said. Her advice to expectant mothers: consult with their doctors about medication use during pregnancy.
The broader context of Trump’s remarks included not only acetaminophen but also vaccines. He advocated for breaking up childhood vaccinations and delaying the hepatitis B shot for newborns, again without citing scientific evidence. Health officials and organizations swiftly rejected these positions. WHO immunization director Kate O’Brien condemned "misinformation linking vaccines to autism," highlighting that such myths have led to real-world consequences, including measles outbreaks and deaths in wealthy countries. The International Confederation of Midwives warned that misinformation "may understandably worry pregnant women and parents," but emphasized that routine infant vaccination programs have "significantly improved health outcomes."
Manufacturers of over-the-counter medications, represented by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, reiterated that "safety is the top priority," and pointed to decades of research and real-world use supporting acetaminophen’s safety profile. Experts and authorities globally continue to urge the public to rely on established medical guidance rather than political rhetoric, especially when the stakes are so high for mothers and babies alike.
As the dust settles, one message rings clear from health authorities worldwide: decisions about medication and vaccination during pregnancy should be made based on rigorous scientific evidence and in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals—not on the basis of unsubstantiated claims, regardless of their source.
