Health Canada Rejects Trump’s Claim Linking Tylenol in Pregnancy to Autism
Health Canada is rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy or childhood is linked to autism.
The department says acetaminophen is a safe and recommended medicine for pain and fever during pregnancy, as long as it is used properly. They advise using “the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible” under a doctor’s direction. Officials also noted that untreated fever and pain can be harmful to a developing baby.
“There is no conclusive evidence that using acetaminophen as directed during pregnancy causes autism or other developmental disorders,” Health Canada said Wednesday. “It has been used safely by millions of Canadians for decades, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
Health Canada added that its guidance is based on strong scientific reviews and that Tylenol already carries clear warnings about safe use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If new evidence showed risks, the department said it would update labels, alert doctors, and inform the public.
Trump’s claim
On Monday, Trump said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would begin warning doctors that acetaminophen is “associated with a very increased risk” of autism. He told Americans: “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it. Fight like hell not to take it.”
Medical experts and Tylenol’s manufacturer, Kenvue, disagree. They say there is no solid evidence to support Trump’s statement.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) also reaffirmed that using Tylenol in pregnancy does not cause developmental problems. “Despite some claims suggesting a link, the evidence is weak and has been consistently refuted,” the SOGC said.
Broader claims
Trump also repeated a long-debunked theory connecting childhood vaccines to autism. He was supported by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine critic. Kennedy has said he would determine the cause of autism, even though experts explain there is no single cause and research points to a mix of genetic and environmental factors.
