The World Health Organization (WHO) and European health regulators have pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s warnings linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism, saying evidence remains inconsistent and does not justify changes in medical advice.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic acknowledged some studies had suggested a possible link between paracetamol and autism but stressed that the findings were not replicable.
“This lack of replicability really calls for caution in drawing causal conclusions,” he said, adding that scientific consensus does not support the claims. WHO also reiterated that vaccines do not cause autism, affirming their proven life-saving qualities.
EU and UK reaffirm Paracetamol’s safety
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated on Tuesday that available evidence “has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism.” The agency confirmed there was no new data requiring changes to existing recommendations and advised that paracetamol can still be used by pregnant women when necessary, provided it is taken at the lowest effective dose.
Britain’s health regulator issued a similar statement a day earlier, affirming the drug’s safety during pregnancy.
Trump’s remarks at the White House
In a rare press conference on Monday, Trump advised pregnant women and parents of young children to avoid Tylenol and suggested spacing out or delaying childhood vaccinations. His remarks placed long-debunked claims about vaccines and autism back in the spotlight.
The advice contradicts recommendations from medical societies worldwide, which cite decades of research showing acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol—is safe for use during pregnancy.
