Health Canada is countering U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that using Tylenol during pregnancy is linked to autism. The agency stated that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is a recommended treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy. It emphasized that the medication should be used as directed by a healthcare professional, specifically at "the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration." Health Canada noted that untreated pain and fever can pose risks to a developing fetus.

In a statement posted on its website, Health Canada said, "There is no conclusive evidence that using acetaminophen as directed during pregnancy causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders." The department highlighted that acetaminophen has been safely used by millions of Canadians for decades, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Health Canada’s guidance on acetaminophen is based on thorough assessments of available scientific evidence. The agency monitors medication use in Canada and pointed out that Tylenol packaging already includes clear warnings regarding its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. "If new scientific evidence demonstrates a risk, Health Canada would take action to update labels, inform health-care professionals, and provide advice to Canadians," the agency stated.

Trump made his claims during an event at the White House, where he stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would inform physicians that taking acetaminophen could be "associated with a very increased risk" of autism. He urged pregnant women and caregivers to avoid Tylenol, saying, "Fight like hell not to take it."

Medical experts and Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, quickly refuted Trump's claims, stating that there is no conclusive evidence supporting a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) reiterated that Tylenol does not lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. The SOGC stated, "Despite some claims suggesting a causal link between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and certain neurodevelopmental disorders, the evidence supporting these claims is weak and has been consistently refuted by scientific and regulatory bodies."

In addition to the Tylenol claims, Trump also called for a re-evaluation of the debunked connection between childhood vaccines and autism. He was supported by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine critic. Kennedy has previously promised to identify the cause of autism by the end of September, a claim that has raised skepticism among experts who assert that autism has no single cause and is influenced by various genetic and environmental factors.