Public kitchens and state institutions spend taxpayer money on what they serve, which makes a long-running purchasing pattern worth examining closely. A Mongabay investigation published in 2025 found that shark meat appeared repeatedly in Brazilian government tenders, reaching schools, hospitals and prisons across the country. The reporting, produced in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center, has since drawn attention from journalism judges and lawmakers alike ([1]).
The Scale of the Purchases
The purchases were far from isolated. The investigation tracked 1,012 public procurements issued since 2004, covering more than 5,400 metric tons of shark meat. The contracts were worth at least 112 million reais, roughly $20.1 million.
The buyers were not limited to one type of agency. The meat was destined for schools, hospitals, prisons and other public institutions, which shows how deeply the product had moved into routine state procurement. The key figures from the reporting are summarized below.
- 1,012 public procurements issued since 2004
- More than 5,400 metric tons of shark meat purchased
- At least 112 million reais (about $20.1 million) in contracts
- A ban covering 1,200 state-run schools in Rio de Janeiro, according to the source
Concerns Over Contamination
The health questions are what give the story its weight. Sharks, some of them endangered, accumulate heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic in their tissues. When those contaminants reach high levels, they can pose health risks, and children are among the groups most at risk.
That combination of environmental and public health concerns is why the findings have resonated beyond the procurement records. Institutions that feed large numbers of young people or patients carry a particular duty to check what ends up on the plate, and the investigation puts that responsibility under a sharper light.
Political and Industry Reaction
The reporting has already produced visible consequences. It prompted a request for a public hearing in the lower house of Brazil’s Congress, which would give lawmakers a formal forum to examine how shark meat entered public supply chains. The findings also stirred debate within the fishing industry over the risks of eating shark meat.
Those reactions suggest the issue is no longer confined to the data. Procurement rules, food safety standards and fishing policy now overlap in a discussion that will likely involve officials at several levels of government.
Recognition for the Reporting Team
Senior editor Philip Jacobson and investigative reporters Karla Mendes and Fernanda Wenzel reported the series for Mongabay. They worked with Kuang Keng Kuek Ser, who was then data editor at the Pulitzer Center, a partnership that shaped the data-driven approach of the project.
The work has also earned recognition in Brazil. It is one of three finalists for the Cláudio Weber Abramo Data Journalism Award in the investigation category, which honors “work of high social impact” that applies data analysis to matters of public interest. The series is also one of 25 finalists for the Mosca Award, which recognizes investigative work centered on transparency, access to public information and open data.
What matters now: Government buying records can reveal food choices that few people see. The Brazilian case shows how public data can expose long-standing procurement habits, and how those habits can become a matter for lawmakers, regulators and the public.
The coming months will show whether the hearing request leads to tighter oversight of shark meat purchases. For now, the investigation offers a measured reminder that the contents of a public tender can carry consequences well beyond the contract itself.
