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Cofounder & Research Director (Volunteer)

Elise Hutchinson, PhD

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

About Elise Hutchinson, PhD

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.

She is Director of Research and Co-Editor in Chief at foodfacts.org. Her responsibilities include:

Conducting research into misinformation, its mechanisms and evidence-based methods to fight it effectively
Training all of our volunteer fact-checkers
Overseeing the fact-checking process, from selecting claims to fact-checks, writing fact-checks to editing final drafts
Content creation
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Elise earned her PhD at the Université de Neuchâtel and currently lives in England.

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Articles featuring

Elise Hutchinson, PhD

Untangling microwaves myths: a physics-based reality check

Microwaves don't make food radioactive or destroy nutrients — the physics makes this clear. Here's what the evidence actually says about microwave safety.

Fibre under fire: debunking Eddie Abbew's claims that humans don’t need it

We fact-check recent claims by Eddie Abbew that fibre isn't essential, reviewing the science on its role in digestion, immunity, and long-term disease prevention.

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

Azodicarbonamide is found in some breads and yoga mats — but the doses differ by millions. Here's what the science says about the actual risk to consumers.

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.

Exposing misinformation: how influencers twist the truth on social media

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

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

Eddie Abbew dismisses tempeh as fake food — but it's one of the most nutrient-dense plant proteins available. Here's what the nutritional evidence shows.

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

Candi Frazier claims potatoes aren't natural human food — but solanine levels in modern potatoes are safe and humans have eaten them for over 10,000 years.

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

Raw meat carries salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. Despite influencer claims, there is no credible evidence it offers benefits that outweigh these risks.

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.

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!

Exposing misinformation: how influencers twist the truth on social media

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

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