WARNING: Distressing images and content
Woolworths has come under fire from the world’s largest animal rights group over the sale of a popular everyday pantry staple.
PETA Australia has targeted the supermarket giant over its refusal to “do the right thing” and remove coconut milk sourced from Thailand from its stores.
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A recent PETA Asia investigation accused many coconut milk suppliers across Thailand of abusing monkeys.
It’s been claimed the endangered monkeys are kidnapped as babies or bred in captivity so they can pick coconuts from trees.
PETA says the animals are forced to live in “miserable living conditions” and are chained and beaten if they refuse to pick coconuts or do not pick them fast enough.
The animal rights group said Woolworths has refused previous requests to source its own brand of coconut milk from other parts of the world.
However Woolworths has vehemently denied this claim, stating that the supermarket’s investigations have shown that their coconut milk suppliers in Thailand do not permit these “concerning practices”.
It’s understood the three companies previously identified by PETA (Chaokoh, Suree and Aroy-D) do not supply Woolworths own-branded products.
“There are many coconut businesses in Thailand, and these claims have not been connected to any of the suppliers we source our own brand coconut milk from,” a Woolworths spokesperson has told 7NEWS.com.au.
“We do not allow these concerning practices in our supply chain, and all our suppliers have made written declarations that it will not be tolerated in their businesses either.
“Animal welfare is fundamental to our business, and we take any allegations of mistreatment seriously.”
7NEWS.com.au understands that Woolworths is not the only major retailer to sell coconut milk sourced from Thailand. Coles own brand of coconut milk, for example, is also made in Thailand.
Despite the denial, PETA insists that Australians should lobby Woolworths to source its coconut milk from other regions of the world.
“Tell Woolworths to stop supporting monkey abuse in the Thai coconut industry,” PETA Australia said in a recent post on its website.
“Despite having known for years about the rampant use of monkey labour in the Thai coconut industry – and after a recent PETA Asia investigation implicated coconut milk suppliers across Thailand in monkey abuse, despite their assurances – Woolworths is still refusing to do the right thing by moving its coconut milk supply chain out of Thailand.
“In New Zealand, where Woolworths operates as Countdown, supermarket Pak’nSave has already stopped stocking coconut milk from these farms. However, Woolworths has yet to act.
“Watch the latest investigative footage, and take action by urging Woolworths to remove Thai coconut milk from its supply chain.”
In the past 24 hours, social media users have taken to Woolworths Facebook page to call on the supermarket group to change its coconut milk supply chain.
“Woolworths, are you still sourcing your coconut milk from Thailand, where monkeys are tortured?” said one.
Another wrote: “Why do you torture Innocent monkeys?”
A third added: “It’s high time Woolworths did the right thing for monkeys by cutting ties with forced animal labour. They are chained and made to harvest the coconuts, beaten if they don’t do it fast enough, horrific.
“Please find another source for coconut milk. Thank you for doing the right thing.”
One more responded: “It’s time Woolworths cut ties with the coconut milk industry who beat monkeys to make them go up trees and pick the coconuts.
“What are you thinking of, Woolworths … supporting animal cruelty? It’s not acceptable.”
Another added: “Stop working with monkeys abusers!”