Katherine Webster  |  November 12, 2020

Category: Beverages

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Choakoh Coconut Milk may be being cruel to monkeys.

Grocery store chain Wegman’s has become the latest to ban Chaokoh coconut milk over the company’s alleged inhumane treatment of monkey laborers.

According to the Daily News, Wegman’s decided to stop selling Chaokoh coconut milk after an undercover investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) found monkeys used to harvest coconuts in Thailand were treated cruelly.

Wegman’s dropped Chaokoh coconut milk after PETA shared video with the company; thousands of PETA members and supporters also raised the issue in an email campaign, the Daily News reported. 

“Milk from coconuts picked by chained monkeys doesn’t belong on grocery shelves any more than monkeys belong on those chains,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk told the Daily News. “Wegmans heard PETA’s message, and now PETA is calling on Walmart and Target to join it and the thousands of other stores that reject products of forced monkey labor.”

Thailand-based Theppadungporn Coconut Co. Ltd., the maker of Chaokoh coconut milk, told USA Today it has used a third party to audit coconut plantations, and shared a copy of the resulting report, titled “Monkey-Free Coconut Due Diligence Assessment.” 

According to that report, 64 out 817 farms were selected at random for the audit; none were found to be using monkeys for harvesting coconuts.

“Following the recent news about the use of ‘monkey labour’ 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 labour in our coconut plantations,” the company said in a statement, according to USA Today. Chaokoh added its suppliers signed memorandums of understanding that no monkey labor is to be used on their farms.

PETA celebrated the addition of yet another grocery chain to the list of those banning the sale of Chaokoh coconut milk.

Earlier this fall, Costco pledged to stop selling Chaokoh coconut milk and any other products from Thai suppliers accused of using forced monkey labor, USA Today reported.

“We have ceased purchasing from our supplier/owner of the brand Chaokoh,” Ken Kimble, Costco’s vice president and general merchandise manager of corporate food and sundries, wrote in a Sept. 29 letter to Newkirk. “We will continue to monitor the implementation of the harvest policies and once satisfied will resume purchasing.”

Kimble said in his letter that Costco shared Newkirk’s “concern about the alleged treatment of monkeys” and had launched an investigation when it became aware of the issue, USA Today reported.

Wegmans bans Choakoh Coconut Milk.Many other chains have also dropped Chaokoh coconut milk.

In addition to Costco and now Wegman’s, Stop & Shop, Walgreens, Food Lion, and Giant Food all have stopped carrying the brand, according to People

Chaokoh products still were listed for sale on Target, Walmart, and Kroger’s websites as of Oct. 28, USA Today reported.

Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the United States, told USA Today it has “re-engaged” its suppliers and other stakeholders on the issue to make sure they were all on the same page when it comes to protecting the welfare of animals.

“Kroger has a longstanding commitment to responsible business practices, including the humane treatment of animals,” the retailer said in a statement to USA TODAY. 

Target is reportedly investigating the issue, but reaffirmed its commitment to animal welfare in a statement to USA Today.

“We believe in the humane treatment of animals and expect those who do business with us to do the same,” Target’s statement said. “We’re looking into Chaokoh’s practices and will determine next steps accordingly.”

Walmart did not comment on whether it was looking into dropping Chaokoh coconut milk. 

Do you think more grocery chains should ban the sale of Chaokoh coconut milk? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.

26 thoughts onWegman’s Is the Latest to Ban Chaokoh Coconut Milk over Allegations of Cruelty

  1. Sonia says:

    Add me. You can not tell me that (MAJOR COMPANIES)) as big as these don’t look into anything like what they buy or where it comes from even do some investigation ( that’s a lie) if they can get it for cheap and not tell the consumer anything they will buy i and sell it for profit. Poor animals!

  2. Lisa Turner says:

    Any huge corporation with lots of money does it need monkeys as labor that’s ridiculous and it’s an outrage and they should be banned sued and closed down

  3. MICHELLE KITTS says:

    Please add me

  4. Darrell Stewart says:

    Pls Add Me

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. By submitting your comment and contact information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Top Class Actions regarding this and/or similar lawsuits or settlements, and/or to be contacted by an attorney or law firm to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify. Required fields are marked *

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.