The Scoop: Tylenol hits back at anticipated government claims over autism
Plus: Details on preliminary TikTok deal; companies urgently respond to H1-B visa changes.
The Trump administration is expected to announce Monday that it believes there is a link between autism and the use of Tylenol by pregnant women.
Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol, has strenuously denied early leaks about the claims.
“We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” a Kenvue spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. “We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.”
Beyond the statement to the media, Tylenol has gone directly to the public with a robust website FAQ addressing the concerns. It leans heavily on third-party credibility, with links to information from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Autism Science Foundation and, in a somewhat biting gesture, the FDA, which says “To date, FDA has not found clear evidence that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.”
In bold, the FAQ page reads: “Our best advice? Talk to your healthcare professional before taking or administering acetaminophen.”
As of Monday morning, Kenvue’s stock was down 4.31% in premarket trading.
Why it matters: Kenvue has come out swinging against the government’s claims, including by using their own words against them from the FDA. Their response has been clear and unequivocal, pointing consumers to third-party sources to argue their case for them rather than relying only on their own words. From organizations focused on autism to those focused on the health of babies to family doctors, Kenvue is saying loud and clear: Years of data show our product is safe.
But in the face of governmental condemnation and potential regulation, there may only be so much PR can do. For the moment, taking the case directly to the public via other trusted sources is a smart strategy.
However, how people receive this news could come down more to what they already think and feel about the Make America Healthy Again movement than actual science revealed by either the government, Kenvue or the medical establishment.
Tylenol has weathered grave trust problems in the past. Their response to the 1982 Tylenol murders is still considered the gold standard for crisis response more than 40 years later. We’ll continue to see if they can fight their way back again.
Editor’s Top Reads:
- Nearly nine months after TikTok briefly disappeared from the U.S., it appears the government has struck a deal with the Chinese-owned ByteDance to keep the wildly popular app in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal revealed some key details about the deal, which have not yet been fully finalized. The app would be owned by existing and new investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake. ByteDance would retain less than 20% ownership. Most importantly for you: Users are not expected to need to download a new app and the magical algorithm would be retained. The Journal says that, “ByteDance would copy the algorithm it uses to recommend content to users, then lease it to the new entity, according to the official and people familiar with the agreement. The company would then recreate the algorithm for consumers under the supervision of Oracle and the U.S. government.” China would not be able to access user data, according to the preliminary deal. If this plan comes to pass, this appears to be the best-case scenario for the social media marketing industry, as both the current app and the algorithm remain in place, negating the need for a mass exodus or a rebuilding of existing accounts. But the devil’s in the details – we’ll see what really comes to pass.
- The Trump administration has imposed a new $100,000 fee for companies seeking to hire H1-B visa holders to work in the U.S. While this applies only to new visa holders, not those already in the country, many companies are quickly working to reassure and communicate with existing visa-holding employees. Business Insider obtained a number of memos from tech companies with instructions. The memos from Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Goldman Sachs all followed similar patterns: They acknowledged the fluidity and rapidity of the situation, with the stipulations taking effect Saturday night with little notice. Those outside the country were urged to return as soon as possible, and those in the U.S. were encouraged to stay there for the foreseeable future. “I know these developments are creating anxiety and uncertainty for many of you,” Microsoft concluded its email. “While we don’t have all of the answers right now, we ask that you prioritize the recommendations above.” These internal communications are vital lifelines for employees who suddenly had their lives disrupted.
- Last week, a 32-year-old man died while riding Stardust Racers, a massive rollercoaster at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, which opened earlier this year. The medical examiner found his cause of death was “blunt force trauma,” causing rampant speculation about what caused the death of the man, who used a wheelchair due to a spinal injury. Sunday night, President & COO of Universal Orlando Resort Karen Irwin sent an email to Universal team members that expressed empathy for the man, his family and team members impacted by the tragedy. She then switches gears to the investigation: “Our internal findings to date confirm that the ride systems functioned as intended, equipment was intact at the ride’s start, throughout the duration of the ride and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station, and our Team Members followed procedures.” In other words: Whatever happened was not the ride’s fault. She stressed that the investigation is ongoing and ended again by expressing concern for team members. This statement sensitively but clearly establishes that it does not appear the ride was at fault, an important statement for both internal and external audiences as the new park tries to figure out how to move forward with a cloud over its signature attraction.
Allison Carter is editorial director of PR Daily and Ragan.com. Follow her on LinkedIn.
an apt response to an unecessary assault of the tylenol recognised and well reputed brand .However you made the pertinent point that the consumer will still have their opinion ,perception of threat and so forth..that only sustained engagement will disperse.
well said.