Scientific Committee
Guided by experienced scientists.
Built on trusted research.
Meet Our Scientific Advisors
Dr. Anthony Fardet
Senior Researcher · PhD in Human Nutrition
As an agri-food engineer and Doctor in Human Nutrition, Anthony has spent over 28 years researching at the food-health interface. His work focuses on how processing affects the food “matrix effect” and its health potential within the framework of the One Health approach. He is also a leading voice in characterizing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and supporting the core concept that chronic diseases are primarily caused by an excessively degraded food “matrix effect,” rather than nutrients alone.
He champions a holistic approach to preventive nutrition and, more generally, across the entire agri-food chain, looking beyond single nutrients to the full context of how foods are grown, processed, and consumed. Within this context, he has defined the 4V Rule (Vivant, Vrai, Végétal, Varié in French- Living agriculture, Veritable, Vegetal, and Varied foods) for protecting global health. His work has shaped food-scoring methodologies used across Europe.
Ultra-processed foods
Food matrix
Holistic nutrition
Sustainable diets
Dr. Sylvie Davidou
PhD, Food Sciences · Food Product Formulation
Sylvie holds a PhD in Food Sciences and specializes in food rheology, ingredient behavior, and product formulation. Her research focuses on how ultra-processed foods can be identified through "markers of ultra-processing," including both additives and non-additive ingredients, across large-scale supermarket datasets.
She has co-authored major studies analyzing tens of thousands of packaged products to map how processing markers appear across food categories, helping translate complex food science into practical, scalable classification tools.
Food formulation
Ingredient analysis
Food rheology
UPF classification
How our committee helps
Our Scientific Committee brings together leading experts in nutrition, food processing, and public health to guide BENI's evolution. Their expertise helps transform complex scientific research into a practical framework people can trust.
Understanding the Challenge
From dietary inadequacy to the growing impact of ultra-processed foods, our experts examine the research driving today's most pressing nutrition challenges and the need for better consumer guidance.
Strengthening the Framework
Drawing on established models such as NOVA and SIGA, alongside holistico-reductionist approaches, the committee helps refine BENI's framework to deliver a more complete evaluation of packaged foods.
Driving Continuous Progress
As scientific understanding evolves, so does BENI. Ongoing collaboration and critical review help ensure our approach remains relevant, transparent, and aligned with the latest advances in nutrition science.