Netflix and Food Evolution

What is going on?

Eclectic Science
Aug 26, 2017 · 2 min read

First, I recommend that anyone wanting Netflix to carry the film, ask them directly via their request page. Second, there is a petition on Change.org asking Netflix to host the movie as well. I did both.

I then contacted Radhika Womack with “Food Evolution” about Netflix. The movie was offered to Netflix for streaming but they passed on it.

That is all we know. Netflix passed. In that vacuum, there is speculation ranging from an anti-science agenda to a more pedestrian idea that they already have a bunch of food documentaries, why add another one? Before you blow a gasket, I know most food documentaries are full of misinformation and nonsense and that “Food Evolution” is the rare gem that brings science to the table, but it is a big ask to expect whoever oversees picking up small films for streaming at Netflix to know the difference. If I was a betting person, I’d guess that someone just made a bad call this time around. No need to assume an anti-science agenda in the absence of evidence.

Images captured from my Netflix queue

Besides, Netflix will carry the film on their DVD/Blu-Ray service (it is in my future queue right now). If they had an animus for this film I would expect it to be unavailable on all their platforms.

Since Netflix passed, Hulu has picked it up. Per Radhika Womack, streaming the film is now exclusive to Hulu for 3 years. They will approach Netflix and other streaming services again after that period, but cable options become available in 2018 (6 months after the Hulu launch on 9/21), so we may see it on Discovery, NatGeo, or the like.

I still think the petition and requests are important to let Netflix know that there is an audience for science-based food documentaries.

FYI: I tried contacting Netflix, and as you’d expect, their customer service reps have nothing to do with content decisions, and couldn’t help. I also found an e-mail for media questions but I haven’t heard back, which was what I expected, since the curiosity of an infrequent blogger on Medium doesn’t hold much weight, if any.

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Eclectic Science

Written by

Microbiologist who has worked with both mammalian and bacterial cells. Now I follow science via my Eclectic Science page. www.facebook.com/EclecticScience/

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