Animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia has accused the food delivery service HelloFresh's suppliers of using monkey labour to obtain coconut milk in Thailand.
PETA Asia investigated the Thai coconut industry from December 2021 until July 2022 and allegedly found monkeys had been chained, whipped, beaten and forced to spend long hours picking coconuts.
HelloFresh said in response it "strictly condemns" any use of monkey labour in its supply chain and has been assured its suppliers do not use monkeys.
On Monday (local time), PETA Asia released claims of animal abuse at 57 operations in nine provinces in Thailand.
According to the animal rights organisation, HelloFresh knows about the use of monkey labour in the Thai coconut industry but does not acknowledge it.
"HelloFresh is still refusing to do the right thing by moving its coconut milk supply chain out of Thailand," PETA Asia said.
The animal rights organisation claimed HelloFresh's coconut milk suppliers include Suree and Aroy-D and brokers for both suppliers admitted to using monkey labour.
"A supplier to Suree kept monkeys chained on flooded land or trash-strewn patches of dirt with almost no protection from the elements."
HelloFresh operates across a number of countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, the US and New Zealand.
On Monday (local time) the global food delivery system told CBS MoneyWatch in a statement it has received written assurances from its suppliers that its coconuts are not procured using monkeys.
"HelloFresh strictly condemns any use of monkey labour in its supply chain, and we take a hard position of not procuring from suppliers or selling coconut products which have been found to use monkey labor. We have written confirmation from all of our suppliers - in the US and globally - that they do not engage in these practices."
On Monday (local time), PETA's executive vice president Tracy Reiman claimed in a statement emailed to CBS News:
"Monkeys are chained around the neck and forced to toil day in and day out, all for HelloFresh and other companies that lack a conscience.
"PETA is calling on everyone, including HelloFresh, to stop buying canned coconut milk from Thailand until monkeys are no longer used and abused for profit."
According to CBS News, HelloFresh made more than $US1.9 billion (NZ$3.1 billion) in revenue.
A spokesperson for HelloFresh New Zealand told Newshub, it condemns the use of monkey labour in its supply chain and that none of its suppliers engages in the use of those practices.
"As an industry-leading food solutions group and the world's leading meal kit provider, we have implemented the highest standards in our supply chain and go above and beyond official regulations in our mission to guarantee the safety and sustainability of our product.
"We select our suppliers with care, ensuring that they deliver the best quality and freshest ingredients while adhering to the same high standards that we hold ourselves accountable to."
The spokesperson for HelloFresh NZ also added coconut products from either Suree or Aroy-D are not used in the NZ meal kit boxes.
