Farage weighs in on paracetamol-autism debate as Trump calls for warnings on packets

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, declined to label Donald Trump’s suggestions about paracetamol and autism as irresponsible, telling LBC that he had no idea whether the claim is correct and pointing to the history of thalidomide as a cautionary tale. Farage said, “I have no idea, I have no idea. We were told thalidomide was a very safe drug and it wasn’t. Who knows. I don’t know and you don’t know.” He added that Trump’s focus on autism may be personal given family experience with the condition, but he offered no conclusion on the science behind the link.

The remarks come amid a broader debate over whether paracetamol, a widely used painkiller during pregnancy, could be linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Paracetamol remains the NHS’s recommended first-choice painkiller for pregnant women, used for short periods at the lowest effective dose, but many studies have produced mixed results. The president last week suggested that government health warnings would soon appear on paracetamol packets—often sold in the United States under the Tylenol brand—urging pregnant women to limit or avoid the drug. He later urged people to “fight like hell not to take it.”

Health and scientific officials in both the United States and Britain have urged caution against drawing firm conclusions from existing research. Several studies have reported associations between maternal paracetamol use and higher rates of autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but the findings have been inconsistent and do not establish causation. A recent study from Mount Sinai in New York and Harvard’s School of Public Health, published last month, said that while the association warranted further study, it did not prove that the drug causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. It urged pregnant women to use paracetamol only under medical advice, at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time.

In Britain, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has stressed that there is “no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.” The NHS similarly maintains that paracetamol is safe for short-term use during pregnancy when taken as directed, but it cautions against long-term or high-dose use. The issue has drawn cross-border attention as public figures in the United States amplify calls for caution and potential labeling changes on widely used medications.

The broader medical context remains unsettled. While a handful of studies have suggested potential links, experts note that confounding factors—such as maternal health, lifestyle, and underlying conditions—could influence outcomes. Researchers emphasize that even when associations are observed, they do not establish cause and effect. The Mount Sinai-Harvard study’s authors called for careful interpretation, acknowledging limitations and the need for more robust data before any definitive guidance could be drawn.

Public reaction to Trump’s remarks has been mixed. Some opponents of the comment argue that public health messaging should be grounded in solid evidence, while others caution against stigmatizing parents of children with autism. Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged the public to prioritise medical science over political rhetoric, saying, “Don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.” Streeting and other officials have repeatedly emphasised reliance on established guidelines and expert consensus rather than sensational claims.

Thalidomide’s history continues to color the discussion. In the 1950s, the drug was marketed as a sedative for morning sickness and was widely prescribed before links to birth defects were recognized. It was withdrawn in 1961 after evidence linked the medication to severe congenital disabilities. In the decades since, thalidomide has been reintroduced under strict controls for specific conditions, with stringent safeguards for women of childbearing age. The drug’s legacy remains a powerful reminder of the fragility of drug safety and the importance of robust, independent evaluation before making broad public health claims.

As the world weighs the balance between precautionary warnings and the evolving science of prenatal exposure, regulators and researchers stress that any policy or public health messaging must be grounded in comprehensive evidence. For now, the dialogue around paracetamol, autism, and pregnancy continues to be shaped by a mix of emerging studies, historical cautionary tales, and cautious official guidance, rather than definitive conclusions.