RFK Jr. Dismisses New Study Linking Tylenol to Autism as ‘Nonsense’

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken a firm stance against a recent Danish study, which concluded that there is no correlation between autism and the use of Tylenol during pregnancy, labeling the research as “nonsense” and “fraudulent.”

During a hearing before the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Kennedy expressed his disdain for the findings, stating, “The study is a nonsense study; it should be retracted.” His comments came in response to inquiries about the study's implications.

This study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, analyzed medical records from over a million women in Denmark to explore any potential links between acetaminophen use and autism rates.

Kennedy criticized the methodology, arguing that the research relied solely on prescription data, which he claimed does not accurately represent the broader population of women who may have used acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, available over the counter.

“It was a nonsense in, nonsense out study. The industry can produce these studies at will, and it’s fraudulent,” he asserted.

In response to Kennedy's concerns regarding bias, the study's authors noted that the “true exposure level among those with low-level exposure was likely underestimated,” yet they also emphasized that previous studies on over-the-counter medications indicated such bias is generally minimal.

A 2021 study specifically addressed Kennedy’s worries about the validity of Danish prescription registries for evaluating aspirin and NSAID effects, concluding that unrecorded usage had a “virtually negligible” impact on actual consumption rates.

Additionally, a 2024 Swedish study corroborated these findings, revealing no causal relationship between Tylenol use and autism among siblings.

Kennedy’s office did not provide immediate feedback regarding the 2021 study or the latest research's rebuttal of his claims.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Morris, a public health professor at the University of Pennsylvania and director of its biostatistics division, criticized Kennedy’s dismissal of the Danish study as shortsighted and misleading.

“He fails to recognize that the paper acknowledged previous Danish research that directly assessed potential bias from low-dose, non-prescription use,” Morris stated in an online response to Kennedy’s remarks.

“More importantly,” he continued, “the recent study found that children of high-dose prescription users—who should be at the highest risk according to Kennedy’s framework—showed no increased risk of autism.”

Morris added, “Acknowledging this limitation would be intellectually honest. Demanding retraction and dismissing the study along with other literature that contradicts his narrative is not.”

A year ago, Kennedy claimed he would identify the cause of the autism epidemic by September. After missing that deadline, he later stated in October that his office was working to establish a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism in children. Despite acknowledging a lack of conclusive evidence, he continues to advocate for caution regarding its use during pregnancy.

Former President Donald Trump has also advised pregnant women to “tough it out” rather than take Tylenol for fever, a recommendation that medical professionals have labeled “reckless and irresponsible.”

Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these ongoing discussions.