Monkeys are chained, whipped, beaten and forced to spend long hours picking coconuts, according to research by PETA Asia. Allegations of animal abuse have been reported at 57 businesses in nine Thai provinces, according to findings released Monday. In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, HelloFresh said the company receives written assurances from its suppliers that its coconuts are not sourced from monkeys. “HelloFresh strongly condemns any use of monkey labor in its supply chain, and we take a hard line not to source from suppliers or sell coconut products that have been found to use monkey labor. We have written confirmation from all of our suppliers — in the US and worldwide — that are not involved in these practices.” Monkey in a cage in Thailand. PETA Brokers at HelloFresh’s coconut milk suppliers showed PETA the monkeys, who were chained in dirt dumps and flooded areas with car tires as their only shelter, according to the animal rights group, which released photos from its investigation. as well as videos. . Most of the monkeys are taken from their families in the wild, although the species exploited in the coconut trade are threatened or endangered, according to the animal welfare group. Monkey picking coconuts. PETA “Monkeys are chained around the neck and forced to toil day in and day out, all for HelloFresh and other companies with no conscience,” Tracy Reiman, PETA’s executive vice president, claimed Monday in an emailed statement . “PETA is calling on everyone, including HelloFresh, to stop buying canned coconut milk from Thailand until the money is no longer being used and misused for profit.” The Berlin-based company has a global reach and operates in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA The company had 7.5 million active customers in the third quarter, a three-month period in which the company had more than $1.9 billion in revenue, it said last month. PETA has for years urged companies and people not to buy canned coconut milk products made in Thailand because of allegations of abuse. The group in 2020 received such a commitment from US grocery brands, including Walgreens and Stop & Shop.
