Cofounder

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

Matcha may affect iron absorption, but you shouldn't really worry about it

Matcha has increased in popularity of the last few years, but with it, so have rumous about potential harms. We unpack the evidence in this fact check.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Fact-checking whether carnivore diet babies are “super babies”?

Some influencers are claiming that babies on a carnivore diet become "super babies" - but what does the evidence say?
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Does eating croissants really raise cancer risk? Fact-checking France’s cadmium warning and what it means for the UK

France’s cadmium warning is real, but croissants aren’t uniquely “cancerous” – the risk comes from lifelong exposure to cadmium in many staples.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

Can a cup of lemon balm tea really melt fat overnight?

Lemon tea and magnesium may help you unwind, but current studies don’t show a bedtime drink can melt belly fat by “lowering cortisol” or hacking your...
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
Two raw marbled beef steaks on a wooden board with sprigs of rosemary and black peppercorns
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?
A baby feeding bottle of milk beside a small bowl of seeds on a knitted blanket in a nursery
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Health

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

Seed oils in infant formula are safe and support brain development. Influencer claims to the contrary misrepresent the research on DHA and omega-6…
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

Omega-3 fatty acids: evaluating the role of fish and plant sources

Fish provides EPA and DHA directly; plants provide ALA which converts poorly. Here's what the evidence shows for vegans concerned about omega-3 adequacy.
A varied spread of protein-rich whole foods — eggs, salmon, grilled chicken, lentils, tofu, cheese, almonds and Greek yoghurt — on a wooden table
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

The facts about protein: why science says more isn’t always better

The Glucose Goddess claims that we should all aim for 2g of protein per kg of body weight every day. What do the experts think?
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