Tylenol Maker CEO Meets with RFK Jr. Over Autism Report Concerns

The interim CEO of Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, met privately this week with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss concerns about a forthcoming government report on the causes of autism. The Wall Street Journal reported that the meeting centered on speculation that the report may suggest a connection between autism and a mother’s use of Tylenol during pregnancy.

Kenvue said its position remains clear: scientific evidence does not show a causal link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism. “Our position remains the same: in evaluating available science, we continue to believe that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism, and global health regulators, independent public health organizations, and medical professionals agree,” the company stated.

Health officials emphasized that they regularly meet with stakeholders and are committed to using “gold-standard science” to understand autism’s rise in the U.S. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also stated there is no proven causal connection between Tylenol and autism, encouraging pregnant patients not to avoid acetaminophen unnecessarily.

Acetaminophen remains one of the most widely used over-the-counter medications in the U.S., and the FDA continues to recommend it as a safe option for pain relief during pregnancy. Other pain relievers, such as NSAIDs, are not recommended later in pregnancy due to potential complications.

Medical experts stress that neurodevelopmental disorders are complex and influenced by multiple factors, making it difficult to attribute them to a single cause. Doctors encourage expecting mothers to consult their healthcare providers before using any over-the-counter medications.

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