On Monday, Target became the latest retailer to stop selling Chaokoh coconut milk, according to a statement PETA. In recent months, the animal rights organization has led a boycott campaign against Chaokoh, claiming it uses forced labor to manufacture its product.
In the announcement, PETA’s Executive Vice President, Tracy Reiman said, “PETA revelations have confirmed that Thai coconut producers are exploiting and lying about monkeys, so there is no excuse for any supermarket to keep Chaokoh on its shelves.” The organization applauded Target for joining “thousands of stores” who have agreed to cut ties Wegmans and Costco.
In an emailed statement to Gizmodo, a Target spokesperson said, “We are taking the claims against Chaokoh seriously and as they were unable to adequately address the concerns raised, we decided in November 2020 to discontinue their product. range. “
Chaokoh told USA Today in November that it does not use monkey labor and pointed to a third party audit claiming to have randomly selected 64 out of 817 coconut farms for inspection and found no monkey harvesting coconuts.
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PETA’s allegations stem from multiple studies it led from the coconut picking areas of Thailand. It reported that these coconut farms take monkeys from their mothers when they are young, give them sturdy metal collars, and chain them. The monkeys were then reportedly trained to climb the trees in their general area and take down the coconuts to collect them. Monkeys who resist their captors would have their canines removed. According to the study, some monkeys have to work two jobs because their owners force them to participate in “circus performances.” (Video of the monkeys can be seen here, but animal lovers should be warned it’s a huge bummer.)
PETA says Brazil, Colombia, Hawaii and some other regions are producing fine coconuts without forcing monkeys to make their bids, and it maintains a list of brands that ethically produce coconut water. The activist organization said it is now turning its attention to pressuring one shrinking list from retailers it says persevere.