Morrisons is switching its own-brand coconut milk range to a new supplier following reports of forced monkey labour in Thailand’s coconut industry.

The range will now be sourced from Merit Food Products, an award-winning Thai company verified by animal rights group Peta Asia as not using monkey labour.

Peta has asked the supermarket to extend this policy to all external branded canned coconut milk products.

Peta Asia’s extensive investigations in Thailand over the last six years have implicated coconut pickers, brokers, farms, and monkey-training operations in nine provinces, including top-producing ones. 

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The group’s May 2024 investigation revealed animal suffering at monkey “training schools”, which Peta claims are promoted by the Thai government.

The animal rights organisation said that endangered baby pig-tailed macaques were tethered on ropes and chains with no shelter from extreme weather, and were denied comfort, enrichment, or adequate socialisation.

Peta vice president of vegan corporate projects Dawn Carr said: “Morrisons has taken compassionate action to avoid cruelly obtained coconut milk, and we urge the Thai government to immediately shut down abusive monkey “schools” and ban monkey labour.

“Peta is calling on retailers to check all supply chains and stop selling any Thai coconut milk products linked to this exploitative industry.”

Morrisons has been contacted for comment.