Texas Attorney General Sues Tylenol Makers Over Alleged Autism Risk
The State of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, Inc., its consumer health company, alleging that the companies deceptively marketed Tylenol and concealed evidence that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in the product, may cause neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD when used during pregnancy.
Filed on October 27 by Attorney General Ken Paxton through the Consumer Protection Division of his office, the complaint claims the companies engaged in false advertising, deceptive trade practices, and fraudulent asset transfers to avoid potential liability for the alleged harm. Paxton publicly announced the lawsuit on Tuesday, describing it as an effort to hold the companies accountable for misleading consumers. His announcement came weeks after President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed studies alleging a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism while unveiling a federal initiative to study the causes of the disorder.
According to the filing, Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue allegedly failed to warn consumers about potential risks associated with prenatal acetaminophen exposure while continuing to market Tylenol as a safe pain reliever for pregnant women and young children. The lawsuit alleges that this conduct violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act and the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.
The state further claims that Johnson & Johnson transferred Tylenol-related liabilities to Kenvue during a 2023 corporate restructuring that made Kenvue a standalone public company, allegedly shielding Johnson & Johnson’s assets from future lawsuits. Texas argues that this transfer was fraudulent because it left Kenvue with the liabilities but insufficient assets to satisfy them.
The petition also cites a September 2025 announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, which began a safety label review for acetaminophen after evaluating studies suggesting a possible link between prenatal exposure and conditions such as autism and ADHD. The complaint asserts that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue had been aware of this research for a long time but failed to disclose it or update their product warnings.
Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, companies are prohibited from making false or misleading claims in the course of business. The state alleges that Johnson & Johnson violated this statute by promoting Tylenol as safe for pregnant women despite studies that it claims showed potential developmental risks.
The lawsuit references decades of Tylenol marketing and research that, according to the state, associate prenatal acetaminophen exposure with neurological effects in children. These remain allegations, and the companies are expected to contest them.
Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that all rights and liabilities associated with its over-the-counter products, including Tylenol, belong to Kenvue. Kenvue described acetaminophen as the safest pain-relieving option for pregnant women and rejected the claims as unfounded, emphasizing that untreated fever and pain can also pose risks during pregnancy. “We stand firmly with the global medical community that acknowledges the safety of acetaminophen and believe we will continue to be successful in litigation as these claims lack legal merit and scientific support,” the company said.
While some studies have suggested a possible association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and developmental disorders, others have found none. Acetaminophen continues to be widely used in the United States by more than 100 million people each year and is considered safe by most health authorities when used as directed.
Kenvue has also acknowledged facing related litigation in federal court and noted that many similar autism-related claims have been dismissed, though some are currently on appeal. The Texas complaint additionally alleges that Johnson & Johnson used the parenting website BabyCenter, which it owned until 2019, to promote Tylenol as safe during pregnancy while downplaying studies that questioned its safety.
Texas is seeking civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, restitution for affected consumers, and court orders requiring Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue to update the product warnings for Tylenol.
