{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Shark is on the menu for millions of Brazilians, but few know","description":"Mongabay senior editor Philip Jacobson joins Mongabay\u2019s podcast to discuss a two-part investigation about how state governments in Brazil have been procuring shark meat \u2014 which is high in mercury and arsenic \u2014 and serving it to potentially millions of children and citizens via thousands of schools and public institutions. With Mongabay\u2019s Karla Mendes and Pulitzer\u2019s Kuang Keng Kuek Ser, Jacobson spent a year digging into public databases of government shark meat orders, called tenders. \u200a\u201cIt's quite widespread,\u201d Jacobson says. \u201cWe found shark meat tenders in 10 states and shark meat being served or being procured for more than 500 municipalities.\u201d Government nutritionists were also found to be recommending shark meat for school lunches because it has no bones, and even when one school official raised concerns about heavy metal contamination in the meat, her concerns were not heeded. Critics\u2019 concerns extend beyond vulnerable populations like schoolkids, too, since shark is also on the menus of public institutions like homeless shelters, maternity wards and elder care centers. But since the investigation was released, one lawmaker has called for a parliamentary hearing to discuss the findings. The Mongabay Newscast is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify, and previous episodes are also accessible at our website\u2019s podcast page. Please take a minute to let us know what you think of our podcast, here. Image Credit: A blue shark (Prionace glauca). Image courtesy of Ellen Cuylaerts\/Ocean Image Bank. \u2014- Timecodes (00:00) Millions of Brazilians fed shark meat (12:33) Impacts from Mongabay\u2019s investigation (24:29) Marine related issues flying under the radar (27:13) Why Phil chose investigative reporting (32:40) The GIJN conference ","author_name":"Mongabay Newscast","author_url":"https:\/\/www.mongabay.com\/podcast\/","html":"