Target, Trader Joe’s, and Other Monkey Labor–Free Canned Coconut Milk Retailers and Brands

PETA Asia has blown the lid off the Thai coconut industry’s use of captive monkeys once again. A shocking 2022 investigation revealed terrified young monkeys kept chained, abusively trained, and forced to climb trees to pick coconuts used to make canned coconut milk—including for many brands sold in the U.S.

In the cruel Thai coconut industry, many monkeys are reportedly illegally abducted from their families and homes when they’re just babies. They’re fitted with rigid metal collars and kept chained or tethered. The teeth of some who try to defend themselves are allegedly pulled out.

The Thai government and companies that make coconut products claim that monkeys are no longer used to make goods for export—but PETA Asia’s newest investigation has confirmed that rampant abuse of primates is still going unchecked, and insiders in the Thai coconut industry are deliberately hiding forced monkey labor in their supply chain.

How can you hold these producers accountable? Since the Thai coconut industry continues to lie, the best thing you can do to help the monkeys it abuses is to avoid companies that source canned coconut milk from Thailand.

To make shopping simple, we’ve compiled a list of brands* that have confirmed that they don’t source their canned coconut milk products from Thailand:

Non-Thai Brands of Canned Coconut Milk That Are Monkey-Labor Free

• Cha’s Organics (ORGANIC)
• CocoGoods Co. (ORGANIC)
• Coco Lopez
• Delta Coco
• Essential
• Good & Gather (ORGANIC)
• Goya
• Jans
• Jiva Organics (ORGANIC)
• Let’s Do Organic^® (ORGANIC)
• Lidl
• Maggi
• Native Forest Simple
• Natural Value (ORGANIC)
• Nature’s Charm
• Raley’s
• Roland
• Simple Coconut Cream (ORGANIC)
• Sun Harvest
• Trader Joe’s
• Vita Coco
• Wild Harvest (ORGANIC)

*This list is not comprehensive and may be updated at any time in accordance with the findings of PETA Asia’s investigations or new information received by PETA entities.

Thai Brands of Canned Coconut Milk That Are Monkey-Labor Free

• Chef’s Choice
• Food Club
• Food Lion
• Full Circle
• Geisha
• Hannaford
• Mike’s Organic
• MeritO
• Native Forest
• Nature’s Promise
• Orchids
• Palm Fruit
• PICS
• Signature SELECT
• Simple Truth (Kroger)
• Sprouts Farmers Market
• 365

The Thai brands listed above have stopped sourcing coconuts obtained by monkey labor. PETA’s meticulous process of vetting includes cooperation with the coconut companies involved and is very different from the Thai government’s “monkey-free” certification process, which has been proved to be unreliable. PETA Asia investigators remain vigilant, and we will update this list as needed. Coconut milk brands that are not on this list are unable to guarantee that the coconuts they source are monkey labor–free.

By purchasing from brands that support monkey labor–free coconut-harvesting methods, you’ll be helping to end the cruel practice of exploiting vulnerable monkeys while also sending a powerful message to companies that make products from coconuts picked using abusive methods.

Take Action for Chained, Abused Monkeys

Curious, highly intelligent monkeys are denied mental stimulation, companionship, freedom, and everything else that’s natural and important to them—all so they can be forced to pick coconuts.