Cofounder & Research Director (Volunteer)

Elise Hutchinson, PhD

Elise is a cofounder of foodfacts.org, she has a PhD in linguistics and focuses on fighting misinformation & creating meaningful debate.

About Elise

Elise is one of the founders of foodfacts.org she is a linguistics professional who was awarded Summa Cum Laude for her PhD thesis, which focused on the cognitive and discursive mechanisms behind effective persuasion, particularly in the long term. She is passionate about finding ways to fight against the spread of misinformation and disinformation, and to generate meaningful, constructive debates.

Elise earned her PhD at the Université de Neuchâtel and currently lives in England.

Articles featuring  

Elise Hutchinson, PhD

FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Toxic bread or TikTok panic? What you should know about azodicarbonamide (aka the yoga mat chemical)

This fact-check examines the science and context behind claims that the presence of azodicarbonamide, aka 'the yoga mat chemical', in bread products is unsafe.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Paul Saladino’s anti-folic acid advice for pregnant women is not just wrong—it could be dangerous

Folic acid in pregnancy: evidence-based guidance vs. viral claims. We explain what Paul Saladino’s claims show - and don’t show - plus red flag checks.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

“Not real food”? Says Eddie Abbew. A closer look at claims about tempeh, soy, and men’s health.

Eddie Abbew’s statements dismiss the nutritional value of soy-based foods like tempeh, mischaracterise soy’s impact on hormones, and promote an overly narrow definition of what constitutes “real” food.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Are potatoes really not ‘human food’? We checked the history and science

Fact-checking Candi Frazier in this article we take a deep dive into the powerful persuasive effect of stories, to fact-check a claim that potatoes “aren’t our food,” based on a retelling of the potato’s history.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Media Literacy

Exposing misinformation: how influencers twist the truth on social media

Misinformation Detractors: How Social Media Influencers Deflect Accountability in Nutrition Conversations
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Should we compare smoothies and doughnuts?

Yes, both have sugar—but only one comes with fiber, nutrients, and a blender instead of a fryer.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Environment

What's the impact of food transport on sustainability?

Food miles make headlines, but what’s on your plate matters way more than where it came from.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Dr. Paul Saladino suggests "Olive oil is not for cooking and should not be heated."

The 'don’t cook with olive oil' myth? Burned.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Beyond Headlines: Fact-checking The Telegraph’s claims on the health effects of plant-based alternatives

If headlines had nutrition labels, some would read: 'High in spin, low in substance.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Is ginger good for you? Or are the benefits of this "superfood" overstated?

Many people eat ginger when they're feeling unwell, but are ginger's health benefits anecdotal or based in evidence? We find out in this fact-check!
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Media Literacy

Exposing misinformation: how influencers twist the truth on social media

Misinformation Detractors: How Social Media Influencers Deflect Accountability in Nutrition Conversations