Thanks to pressure from a campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the LA-based Super King Markets will no longer sell Thai coconut milk from milk producer Chaokoh.
"Following a PETA Asia undercover investigation into the use of captive monkeys kept chained and caged for life in Thailand's coconut-picking industry as well as pressure from PETA, Super King Markets has ended its sale of coconut milk from major coconut milk producer Chaokoh," according to a PETA statement.
"Milk from coconuts picked by abused monkeys doesn't belong on grocery store shelves any more than monkeys belong on chains," said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. "Super King Markets heard PETA's message, and now we're calling on Walmart and Kroger to join the chain and the thousands of other stores that have rejected products of forced monkey labor."
After PETA Asia discovered monkey's being used in labor at almost every farm, at every monkey-training facility, and in every coconut-picking contest, PETA wrote in a statement that, "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. Many displayed repetitive behavior indicative of extreme mental anguish, including one monkey who chewed on one of his own limbs. One coconut farmer confirmed that when monkeys are terrified and try to defend themselves, handlers may have their teeth pulled out."
PETA successfully stopped the sale of all products with banned coconut milk brands at stores such as Wegmans, Costco, Walgreens, Food Lion, and Stop & Shop, equallng 26,000 stores, PETA said.
"PETA is now turning its attention to other retailers that still do business with Chaokoh, including Kroger, Albertsons, Walmart, and Target," it said
City News Service contributed to this story.