🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will personally create the controversial flavor within a personal collection highlighting causes the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing tension between the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which mirror those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally established several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed how he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following many years of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence so that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company versus social mission