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Kenvue CEO Lobbied RFK Jr. Not to Cite Tylenol as Autism Cause, WSJ Reports
Kenvue’s interim CEO Kirk Perry met Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to try and dissuade him from listing Tylenol as a potential cause of autism in an upcoming report, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, citing a person familiar with the matter. Perry argued at the hastily scheduled meeting this week that there was no clear link between the two, the report said.
WSJ reported on Sept. 5 that the U.S. health secretary planned to announce that the use of Tylenol, a popular over-the-counter pain medication, in pregnant women was potentially linked to autism – contrary to medical guidelines that say it is safe to use.
Kenvue shares fell more than 9% to $18.62 after the report last week. The stock rose marginally on Friday.
Until the final report is released, any claims about its findings are speculative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in an emailed response.
Why 1 in 6 U.S. Parents Say They Skipped or Delayed Their Kids’ Vaccines
The American parents who are choosing to skip or delay vaccines for their children are more likely to home-school their children, be White and very religious, identify as Republican or be under 35, according to a wide-ranging Washington Post-KFF poll that sheds new light on what drives vaccine hesitancy.
The poll — the most detailed recent look at the childhood vaccination practices and opinions of American parents — shows that 1 in 6 parents have delayed or skipped some vaccines for their children, excluding for coronavirus or flu.
Nine percent have skipped the polio or measles, mumps, rubella shots, which public health experts say risks large outbreaks of potentially fatal diseases which have been curbed through widespread vaccination.
Florida Issues Official Notice About School Vaccine Mandate Changes
It’s official: the Florida Department of Health is beginning to create the rule that will get rid of some vaccine mandates in Florida. The agency filed a Notice of Development of Rulemaking on immunization requirements for public and nonpublic schools, grades preschool and kindergarten through 12, as well as adult education classes.
“The purpose is to update the immunization and document requirements for school entry, including DH 680, Florida Certification of Immunization, DH 681, Religious Exemptions for Immunization, and the Immunization Guidelines — Florida Schools, Childcare Facilities and Family Daycare Homes. The language and form for opting out of inclusion in Florida SHOTS will also be updated,” the notice reads.
The notice says a rule development workshop will happen if requested in writing and “not deemed unnecessary by the agency head.”
Bipartisan, Common Sense, Science-Based’: California Leads the Way in Banning Ultra-Processed School Meals
California has long led the way on school meals. In 2022, it became the first state in the country to make school meals free for all students, regardless of income.
Many districts have implemented farm-to-school programs to bring local foods into the cafeteria. And last year, months before the “Make America healthy again” movement would make its way to the White House, it became the first state in the nation to ban six synthetic food dyes from school meals.
This week, it passed legislation that will put it in the lead on school meals in yet another way — banning ultra-processed foods. On Friday, California lawmakers passed a bill that will define, and then ban, ultra-processed foods from school meals. The legislation, which must now be signed by the governor, Gavin Newsom, is believed to include the first statutory definition of ultra-processed foods in the world.
Autism Is Lifelong. Here’s What Support Looks Like in Adulthood
The government plans to redirect some children off the National Disability Insurance Scheme and onto a new program called Thriving Kids. When announcing the change last month, health and disability minister Mark Butler explained: “Tens and tens of thousands of young children with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism are on a scheme set up for permanent disability.”
This seemed to imply autism is something people “grow out of.” It’s not: autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Support needs in adulthood are diverse and dynamic. One person may need in-home support and care to manage routines or daily living skills. Another person may live independently, but struggle with executive functioning, emotional regulation or burnout.
Executive functioning difficulties can affect planning, time management, task-initiation and decision-making. This makes things like grocery shopping, paying bills, or attending appointments overwhelming and difficult.
Emotional regulation challenges may show up as intense reactions to stress, difficulty remaining calm, or feeling overwhelmed and distressed by small changes.
Burnout, often caused by prolonged stress or “masking” autistic traits, can lead to exhaustion, withdrawal and a reduction in capacity to manage daily tasks. This can affect someone’s ability to work, maintain routines or participate in everyday life.
