Morrisons Cuts Ties With Monkey Labour After Exposés
Great news: Morrisons has become the latest retailer to distance itself from forced monkey labour after learning about PETA Asia’s multiple investigations into the abuse of monkeys in Thailand’s coconut industry.
Morrisons’ own-brand coconut milk range will now be sourced from Merit Food Products, an award-winning Thai company verified by PETA Asia as not using monkey labour.
PETA has asked Morrisons to extend this policy to all externally branded canned coconut milk products and urges everyone to avoid buying Thai coconut milk due to rampant abuse in the industry.
Exposing Thailand’s Monkey Labour
PETA Asia’s extensive investigations in Thailand over the last six years have implicated coconut pickers, brokers, farms, and monkey-training operations in nine provinces, including top-producing ones.
Our May 2024 exposé revealed animal suffering at monkey “training schools,” which are shamefully promoted by the Thai government. Endangered baby pig-tailed macaques were tethered on ropes and chains without shelter from extreme weather. They were denied comfort, enrichment, or adequate socialisation. Many of them were tied to tiny metal cages on which their skin was chafed raw. Monkeys paced neurotically, and some ran frantically while attached to tethers, repeatedly choking themselves on their collars.
Companies and Brands Linked to Monkey Abuse
PETA Asia’s previous investigations found that the use of monkey labour is pervasive throughout the Thai coconut farming industry. It is linked to multiple companies, including AB World Foods, Ampawa, Ampol Food, Suree Interfoods, and Theppadungporn Coconut Co. Several brands were also linked to the footage, including Amoy, Aroy-D, Blue Dragon, Chaokoh, KTC, Natco, PraoHom, and West Indian Pride.
Merit Food Products is the only Thai producer to follow PETA US and Chef’s Choice’s guidance and become monkey-free. Currently, no assurance or certification scheme from the Thai government or other Thai suppliers can be trusted.
PETA is calling on retailers to check all supply chains and stop selling any coconut milk products linked to this exploitative industry.
What You Can Do
Ditch canned coconut milk from Thailand until every monkey is free.
Please also urge the Thai government to end this suffering by shutting down these schools and banning monkey labour in the country:
