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UK health secretary Wes Streeting has told the British public not to “pay any attention” to remarks by Donald Trump claiming that the use of paracetamol during pregnancy was linked to autism in children.
“There is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children — none,” Streeting said.
The health secretary cited a major study conducted in Sweden in 2024 that involved 2.4mn children and did not substantiate claims of a link between the drug and the condition.
He told ITV on Tuesday: “I would just say to people watching, don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine. In fact, don’t take even take my word for it, as a politician — listen to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS.”
At a White House event on Monday, Trump repeatedly said that pregnant women and babies should not take Tylenol, a brand name for paracetamol. “Just don’t take it unless it is absolutely necessary,” he said. “Fight like hell not to take it.”
This is a developing story
