Trump’s autism claims spark backlash as Ireland’s Panadol hub makes 6.5bn tablets a year
Haleon's Dungarvan production facility produces 6.5bn Panadol tablets every year.
Ireland is a major production base for paracetamol, the painkiller now in the spotlight after the Trump administration’s unproven attempt to link Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism.
US president Donald Trump has claimed that taking Tylenol — the popular US pain reliever whose key ingredient is paracetamol — during pregnancy causes autism.
The Irish Medical Organisation dismissed these claims on Tuesday as “false and irresponsible.”
The remarks are unwelcome for Ireland’s paracetamol manufacturing industry. Haleon, a global healthcare company whose brands include Aquafresh, Centrum, Zovirax, and Robitussin, employs 1,700 people across four Irish locations.
Haleon’s Dungarvan facility is the global home of Panadol, producing 6.5 billion tablets annually.
Other common paracetamol products in Ireland include Paralief, produced by Clonmel Healthcare, and Rowalief, licensed in Bantry, West Cork.
On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency said there is “no link” between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism. It added that paracetamol remains safe during pregnancy when used at the lowest effective dose and frequency.
Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023. Tylenol generates about $1bn (€848m) in annual sales for Kenvue, according to US brokerage Morningstar.
It is the company’s largest brand, accounting for a mid-to-high single-digit percentage of total sales, Morningstar analyst Keonhee Kim said.
“We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” Kenvue said in a statement to Bloomberg.
“We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned about the health risks and confusion this poses for expecting mothers and parents.”
In 2023, a New York judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Kenvue filed by parents who took Tylenol during pregnancy and later had a child with autism or another neurodevelopmental disorder, citing a lack of scientific evidence.
The ruling is now under appeal.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, which represents inventors of prescription medicines, vaccines and self-care medicines, said on Wednesday that patient safety is the "foremost priority" in the manufacture and responsible use of over-the-counter medicines.
"Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) is one of the most widely used and trusted pain relievers, with a well-established safety profile backed by decades of scientific evidence and extensive real-world experience," a statement to the Irish Examiner said. "Health authorities across the globe consistently recognise paracetamol as the only analgesic considered appropriate for use during pregnancy, when taken as directed and in consultation with a healthcare professional.
"We welcome the statement from the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority) which reiterates that paracetamol is an important treatment option for the management of fever and pain in pregnancy and available evidence does not link its use to causing autism in children.
"Over-the-counter medicines used in Ireland meet strict regulatory and internal standards to provide consumers with safe and effective options to manage their health. In line with best practice, we emphasise the importance of following the dosage instructions on the patient information leaflet and/ or label and to seek the advice of a health professional if in doubt."
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