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
Media Literacy

The Traffic Lights System: a guide to nutrition misinformation on social media

The Traffic Lights System is a guide explaining how nutrition misinformation works and why it spreads so fast.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Environment

Examining Paul Saladino's response to Sir David Attenborough's claims on meat sustainability

Paul Saladino reacts to Sir David Attenborough's recommendation to adopt largely plant-based diets for sustainability reasons. This fact-check examines Saladino's arguments and the evidence he uses to support the claim that the earth can sustain more meat eaters.
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Food Systems

Salt debate: Are we really better off with a beef burger? What does the data say?

Too salty to be healthy? What's the big picture comparing beef burgers to plant-based meat?
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Nutrition

‘Going vegan destroys the environment’ says Fox News. Is there evidence of this?

Fox News claims that veganism harms the environment, but evidence shows plant-based diets are significantly more sustainable.
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 vegan men 'frail' and more likely to die young? What does the data suggest?

John Ely of the Daily Mail claims that vegan men are “frail” and face a higher risk of early death, based on his interpretation of a recent study.
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
Environment

“Almond milk and veggie burgers can harm the environment” Says media on new Oxford University Study; are plant-based foods worse for the environment?

Critics love to drag almond milk, but the science says it’s still a climate-friendlier sip than dairy
FACT CHECK
Opinion
Environment

Elon Musk claims animal agriculture makes no difference to global warming

Even the smartest minds can get it wrong—especially when they sidestep the science on food and climate
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