Monkey slave horror

Animal forced labor to produce Thai coconut milk

Forced monkey labor on coconut plantations in Thailand is more widespread than previously known — and some US brands and retailers are still buying the country’s coconut milk despite grisly reports of animal abuse, according to an animal rights group.

Officials in Thailand, the world’s third-largest producer of coconut milk, have previously denied that monkey slave labor is a problem. But an investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asserts that Thailand’s coconut industry has embraced the cruel practice almost entirely.

“We didn’t find a single monkey-free operation in Thailand, although we actively looked for one,” said Jason Baker, PETA Asia’s senior vice president, who led the investigation.

PETA conducted two undercover investigations in Thailand beginning in 2019 that found primates are forced to pick coconuts all day with chains around their necks. The probe found “cruelty to monkeys on every farm, at every monkey-training facility, and in every coconut-picking contest that used monkey labor.”

Walmart, Target, Wegmans, Costco, Food Lion and Stop & Shop have cut ties with companies that allegedly use monkey labor. But meal-kit service HelloFresh and the McCormick spice company are among businesses that have resisted making a switch, according to PETA.

HelloFresh said in a statement that it “strictly condemns any use of monkey labor in its supply chain,” adding that it “has written confirmation from all of our suppliers — in the US and globally — that they do not engage in these practices.”

‘Strictly prohibited’

McCormick’s head of communications, Lori Robinson said in a statement, “We are against forced labor of any sort. Child and animal labor are strictly prohibited. Internal audits and/or risk assessments are conducted to ensure compliance, and immediate action is taken if there are violations against our code.”

Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and its embassy in the US did not immediately return emails and calls for comment.

PETA detailed cruelty against Thai monkeys forced into slave labor. And the animal-rights group alleges HelloFresh and McCormick have resisted cutting ties to slave masters. The firms strongly deny the allegations.