Food writer and entrepreneur Ella Mills has addressed public criticism surrounding her background and early success with her plant-based food brand, Deliciously Ella. Mills, the great-granddaughter of Lord Alan Sainsbury of the Sainsbury’s supermarket family, acknowledged in Good Housekeeping UK that she anticipated being called a “nepo baby” when she began her blog. She maintained that despite her family ties, her business achievements stand on their own merit, saying: “You don’t sell 100 million products because 40 years ago Sainsbury’s went public.”
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Mills became a prominent figure in the “clean eating” movement in the mid-2010s, although she has since distanced herself from the term, stating she “would never use the word ‘clean’.” The movement, which encourages the consumption of minimally-processed foods, drew criticism from other food figures, including Nigella Lawson, who argued that the terminology implied other forms of eating were “dirty” or “shameful”. Mills faced backlash, particularly for her gluten-, meat-, and dairy-free recipes, but says much of the criticism was driven by the media rather than social platforms.
Speaking about the challenges of having a public presence, Mills remarked, “I’m aware that a fair share of people don’t like me, for sure… but if I can help people to eat more plants and have a more natural diet, then that’s more important than anything a troll can say about me.” She highlighted the irony within the modern wellness industry, which she believes has grown louder and more niche, even as public health has declined. She warned against the belief that wellbeing depends on “expensive powders and wildly elaborate routines”.
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Mills’ commitment to a plant-based lifestyle is rooted in personal health experiences. In 2011, she was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition where heart rate increases abnormally after standing up. In her 2015 book Deliciously Ella, she shared that switching to a plant-based diet helped her come off all medication within two years. She maintains that her advice is grounded in science, stating, “Everything I suggest is evidence-based. It’s not about gimmicks or fads.”
