Tylenol, FDA Knew About Autism Risk For Years, Newly Surfaced Emails Show

Makers of Tylenol and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew for years about the likely association between the drug’s use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, according to documents obtained in lawsuits against Kenvue.

“The weight of evidence is starting to feel heavy to me,” Rachel Weinstein, U.S. director of epidemiology for Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) pharmaceutical division Janssen, said in an email commenting on several studies showing the link.

Daily Caller News Foundation obtained the emails from Keller Postman LLC, the law firm representing plaintiffs in a federal class action lawsuit against Kenvue.

J&J made Tylenol until 2023, when it spun off production to Kenvue, a separate company.

The email revelations follow President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that pregnant women should not take Tylenol, and the FDA’s announcement that it will add warnings to products containing acetaminophen.

The updated product labels will warn that acetaminophen may be associated with a higher risk of neurological conditions, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in children. The FDA said it will also warn physicians and the public about the risk.

Mainstream media and public health organizations attacked the warnings as unfounded or overblown. Some news organizations quoted scientists — like University of Massachusetts epidemiologist Ann Bauer — who published studies identifying the link between Tylenol and autism and called for warnings, but who are now publicly backpedaling on their concerns.