Costco Will Stop Selling Chaokoh Coconut Milk Over Reports Of Monkey Labor, Says PETA

By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory

Costo, the US retail chain, is reportedly removing Chaokoh coconut milk from its shelves. PETA had recently accused Thai suppliers of Chaokoh of using forced monkey labor to pick coconuts.

PETA announced the decision on its website saying, “Victory! Costco, one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S., has cut ties with Chaokoh coconut milk after discussions with PETA and hearing from thousands of concerned shoppers like you.”

 

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@Costco – one of the largest grocery chains in the US – has cut ties with coconut milk producer #Chaokoh after discussions with PETA and hearing from thousands of people like you 👏 Tap the link in our profile to make your voice heard by other companies that still use forced monkey labor! http://peta.vg/2xyo

A post shared by PETA (@peta) on Oct 28, 2020 at 7:41am PDT

Chaokoh coconut milk manufacturer and distributor Theppadungporn Coconut Co., Ltd has denied the allegations raised by PETA. They claimed there was no monkey labor involved in their coconut production.

“Following the recent news about the use of “monkey (labor)” in Thailand’s coconut industry, Chaokoh, one of the world’s leaders in coconut milk production, reassures that we do not engage the use of monkey (labor) in our coconut plantations,” the company said in a statement obtained by USA Today.

Chaokoh coconut milk Vs PETA

PETA has said that an investigation carried out by their Asia division found terrified monkeys abused, roughly trained, and forced to climb coconut trees to get the fruits. These animals are always chained and the handling is inhumane. The coconuts they bring are used to make milk, oil, flour, and coconut meat, among other products. 

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PETA went to 8 different farms where monkeys were under forced labor. One of these farms is owned by Chaokoh coconut milk company’s suppliers. PETA “documented that these sensitive animals were abused and exploited.”

Read: SUPERMARKETS BOYCOTTING COCONUT SUPPLIERS FOR USING MONKEY SLAVE LABOR ON THEIR FARMS

Many people, especially vegans, do not want to consume milk products that come from cows and other animals. So they go for products like coconut milk and almond milk. Now that this money labor has come to light, it is important that large retailers like Costo stop supporting them. Walgreens, Giant Food, Stop & Shop, and Food Lion also have stopped stocking Chaokoh coconut products. 

Image Featured: Open Food Facts,  Somboon Keaoboonsong