There is no way that you haven’t heard of the talks going on in the country and mainstream media about the use of Tylenol and how it is linked to ADHD or autism. Right? Well, in the same category, there is this Kenvue Lawsuit. Well, it turns out, parents have been complaining about it all for a long time now, but it is actually recently that things started making sense, and now this has become a big talking point. So, if you don’t know the involvement of Kenvue in all this, then just keep on reading.
Why Are Families Suing Kenvue?
The issue here is that these families insist that their kids are getting autistic or the like after their mothers had taken Tylenol while being pregnant. And just go online, look at some articles or social media posts, you’ll know how big a talking point this has become now in the country. Why? Acetaminophen, which is the main component of Tylenol, is the substance in question.
Well, on the one hand, there is Kenvue, which was previously the Johnson & Johnson division, and on the other, anxious parents. To say the least, it is a situation with very high stakes.
How Did the Lawsuit Start?
This is nothing new. Parents have been suing for this very reason for a long time, but it was just recently that all of this took off in popularity. In December 2023, the situation went up a notch when Judge Denise Cote of a federal court in New York assessed more than 500 such cases and rejected them.
Why? According to the judge, the evidence presented did not demonstrate that Tylenol was the cause of autism or ADHD. The families’ expert witnesses lacked support for their allegations. One of the main experts, who has since become a faculty member at Harvard’s school of public health, was disapproved for “selecting only the most favorable” studies. The judge also referred to his research as “unreliable.” And, indeed, he received $150,000 for his evaluation.
The White House Is Now Involved, Too! How And Why?
The White House stayed in the spotlight in September 2025 when things appeared to have settled down. A press conference was held by President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at which they advised pregnant women to stay away from Tylenol.
Kenvue did not react calmly. Their shares fell more than 7% but then rose a little. The company made a point of saying that there are no new scientific findings that indicate that Tylenol is harmful. Nevertheless, the news led to a large public reaction and anxiety.
And What About Now? Like, What’s Happening?
The fight through the courts hasn’t come to an end yet. The parents whose files were thrown out are challenging the decision, once again. Besides, they are using the President’s statement as an argument, claiming that if the specialists are trustworthy enough to guide the public, then they should be considered valid in the judicial system as well. This might have an impact on the procedural aspect of these cases.
The FDA is presently looking into the possibility of including a warning label on Tylenol indicating a potential risk of autism. It would mean that the families’ lawsuits might become more powerful if this is the case.
Kenvue is going through a difficult time. Besides increasing legal actions against them, they struggle to keep up with the public’s trust. Furthermore, they have to handle some historic cases, such as the talc baby powder litigation from Johnson & Johnson, in which they had to pay $45 million. Remember that one?
