Texas Sues Tylenol Maker Over Alleged Autism Link in Pregnancy Marketing

What Happened 

The Texas Attorney General’s office, led by Ken Paxton, has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue Inc., claiming the companies misled consumers by marketing Tylenol as safe for pregnant women. The suit argues that the companies failed to disclose potential risks linking prenatal acetaminophen exposure to developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD.

According to the filing, internal documents suggest the companies were aware of studies raising concerns about acetaminophen’s effects on fetal neurodevelopment. Yet they continued to present the product as safe for use during pregnancy without providing adequate warnings. Johnson & Johnson, which formerly owned Tylenol before spinning it off into Kenvue, is accused of shielding itself from liability while profiting from the product’s reputation.

Both companies strongly deny the claims. Kenvue said in a statement that acetaminophen remains one of the safest options for pain relief during pregnancy when used as directed and accused the state of pursuing a lawsuit unsupported by scientific consensus.

Why It Matters 

While several studies have found correlations between in utero acetaminophen exposure and higher risks of autism or ADHD, the science remains far from settled. The FDA has so far declined to issue stronger warnings, and medical groups still list acetaminophen as an acceptable option during pregnancy.

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But Paxton’s lawsuit is not just about science. It’s about accountability. The state argues that parents were never given the full picture. The claim is not that acetaminophen definitively causes harm, but that consumers were denied the chance to make informed decisions in the face of emerging evidence. If successful, the case could force companies to disclose more nuanced risks, even when those risks are based on association rather than causation.

That would set a new precedent in product labeling. Drug manufacturers could face pressure to issue warnings on products with imperfect data, particularly those used by vulnerable populations like pregnant women and young children. It also raises the stakes for over-the-counter products, which traditionally carry fewer legal risks than prescription drugs.

This is not happening in a vacuum. Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, has positioned the lawsuit as a challenge to both corporate influence and regulatory complacency. In doing so, he taps into other political currents, such as distrust of pharmaceutical companies, frustration over childhood developmental disorders, and growing calls for greater transparency in health care.

How It Affects You 

This case could change the way medications are marketed, labeled, and discussed between doctors and patients. If acetaminophen ends up carrying stricter pregnancy warnings, it will alter how expectant mothers manage common symptoms like headaches, fevers, and pain. What was once considered routine advice, such as taking Tylenol if needed, may soon come with caveats or alternatives.

It could also ripple through the legal system, as other states may soon follow Texas’s lead. Class-action lawsuits could gain momentum. Pharmaceutical companies might be forced to reassess how they handle risk communication, even for drugs with long-standing reputations.

Furthermore, this case highlights how everyday medical decisions are being pulled into political, legal, and cultural debates. What gets printed on a label, what a doctor recommends, what a parent trusts-none of it happens in isolation anymore. Science is part of it, but so are liability, public pressure, and public office.

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