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

How viral posts about "unnatural" apples may be missing what the science actually shows

Modern apples have been selectively bred, but does that make them bad for you? The science suggests otherwise.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

No, pork isn’t a superfood: How one tiny study spawned misleading ‘live longer’ headlines

Debunk the viral “pork helps you live longer” claim with an evidence-based breakdown of the study, its limitations, and what nutrition science really says.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Politics Of Food

The real war that the new American dietary guidelines have created

The 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines risk eroding trust in nutrition science while failing to address ultra-processed food dominance and structural issues.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Do plant milks really harm our IQ?

We assess how a misleading headline shapes assumptions about plant-based milks and IQ, and summarises what you need to know about iodine deficiency
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

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
Nutrition

Why the raw meat craze is dangerous. And why influencers won’t say it

We are told eating raw meat carries real risks, but then we also see influencers eating raw meat and they seem to feel fine. But what does the science and evidence say?
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

No, you don’t need to avoid feeding your kids whole grains.

Whole grains have been consistently linked with positive health outcomes and can play an important part in health-promoting, sustainable diets.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Is acrylamide the most dangerous ingredient in your food?

Acrylamide is a naturally occurring chemical formed during high-temperature cooking of starchy foods, like potatoes and bread. It's not added to food, but rather a by-product of the cooking process.
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