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

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

Articles featuring  

Elise Hutchinson, PhD

FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Is acrylamide the most dangerous ingredient in your food?

Why saying that Acrylamide is the most dangerous hidden ingredient ignores the basic science about cooking food
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Red 3 in the spotlight: should you stop eating cocktail cherries?

Social media posts often compare EU and US food safety regulations. We explore the relevance of such comparisons around food additives and cancer links.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Are non-organic strawberries unsafe? Examining the evidence

Strawberries and pesticide residues: what you need to know
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Environment

“Net zero beef?” Why sustainability claims need more than headlines

'Net Zero Beef': Is this greenwashing or something that holds validity behind corporate-sponsored sustainability narratives?
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
Health

No, the medical community has not reversed its position on high cholesterol

A new Keto study made waves on social media. We examine how its findings were received by the scientific community—and how they were reported by the Daily Mail
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Influencer suggests Easter candy treats are dangerous. Here's what you need to know

This is part of a social media trend advocating for food swaps that will instantly improve your health. But it misses the big picture, read on to find out more
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Eddie Abbew’s claims on red meat: what you need to know

Eddie Abbew claims that eating red meat only for a month is the best way to reduce inflammation, but how does this compare to the scientific evidence?
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Seed oils are in baby formula for a reason. Here’s why it matters

For parents who cannot naturally breastfeed their babies, infant formulas provide a lifeline.
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