Costco ending sales of Chaokoh coconut milk over cruelty claims
Costco has reportedly stopped purchasing Chaokoh coconut milk after PETA accused its manufacturer, the Thailand-based company Theppadungporn Coconut Co., of using forced monkey labor.
PETA investigators from its Asia division found cruelty to monkeys at farms and facilities used by Theppadungporn Coconut Co., according to the animal rights group.
“When not being forced to pick coconuts or perform in circus-style shows for tourists, the animals were kept tethered, chained to old tires, or confined to cages barely larger than their bodies,” according to PETA. “One coconut farmer confirmed that when monkeys are terrified and try to defend themselves, handlers may have their teeth pulled out.”
Chaokoh, one of the world leaders in coconut milk production and other coconut products, and Theppadungporn Coconut Co., have not responded to CNN’s request for comment.
Theppadungporn told USA Today that it has audited coconut plantations using a third party and shared a copy of the 14-page “Monkey-Free Coconut Due Diligence Assessment.” The report says 64 farms out of 817
were randomly selected and “did not find the use of monkey for coconut harvesting.”
“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, which noted that its suppliers have signed memorandums of understanding that there’s no monkey labor at their farms.
PETA is calling on all grocers to stop selling Chaokoh milk products and promise to work with humane suppliers for their products.
“No kind shopper wants monkeys to be chained up and treated like coconut- picking machines,”
said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “Costco made the right call to reject animal exploitation.”
Costco representatives said they could not comment on the matter to CNN.
In a letter to Newkirk, obtained from PETA, Costco’s Vice President of Corporate Food and Sundries, Ken Kimble, said the wholesaler has launched an investigation and its supplier is visiting every facility to verify they aren’t using monkey labor.
“We have ceased purchasing from our supplier/owner of the brand Chaokoh,” Kimble wrote in the letter, dated Sept. 29. “We have made it clear to the supplier we do not support the use of monkeys for harvesting and that all harvesting must be done by human labor.”