Morrisons drops Thai coconut milk over monkey labour concerns

Morrisons has pledged to remove coconut milk linked to monkey labour from its shelves. / Credit: Shutterstock

Morrisons has become the latest supermarket to distance itself from Thailand’s controversial coconut milk industry, following evidence of widespread monkey exploitation uncovered by PETA Asia. The retailer has confirmed that its own-brand coconut milk will now be sourced exclusively from Merit Food Products and Chef’s Choice, two Thai companies verified by PETA Asia as free from forced monkey labour.

Six years of investigations reveal systemic abuse

The move comes after PETA Asia released findings from a series of investigations carried out over the last six years, which have repeatedly exposed cruelty in Thailand’s coconut harvesting sector. Their most recent investigation, published in May 2024, highlights disturbing treatment of endangered pig-tailed macaques.

Investigators found monkeys chained by the neck, with no shelter from extreme weather. Many were kept in small metal cages, where their skin became raw from constant rubbing against the bars. The animals, often taken as babies, were denied any form of comfort or socialisation and were trained under harsh conditions to collect coconuts for human consumption. Some were seen pacing in distress, while others ran frantically on tethers, choking themselves on tight collars.

Call for Morrisons to go further

Although Morrisons’ switch to verified suppliers has been welcomed, PETA is now urging the supermarket to extend this policy beyond its own-brand products. The group is calling on Morrisons to review all branded coconut milk on its shelves, to ensure none are linked to exploitative practices.

PETA is also encouraging consumers to avoid buying Thai coconut milk altogether, warning that no government certification currently guarantees monkey-free production.

Major brands implicated

PETA Asia’s investigations have implicated several well-known brands in the use of monkey labour. These include Aroy-D, Chaokoh, Blue Dragon, KTC, Amoy, and Natco, among others.

Despite denials from Thai authorities and suppliers, PETA maintains that monkey labour remains widespread in the country’s coconut industry, and that Merit Food Products is currently the only Thai company verified as monkey-free.

A call for industry-wide reform

Dawn Carr, PETA’s Vice President of Vegan Corporate Projects, praised Morrisons’ first step but called for stronger action:

Morrisons has taken compassionate action to avoid cruelly obtained coconut milk, and we urge the Thai government to shut down abusive monkey ‘schools’ and ban monkey labour completely.”

Carr added that all retailers should review their supply chains and stop selling products linked to animal exploitation.

For more information, visit www.peta.org.uk.