🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial product within a personal series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement intensifies the ongoing tension between the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed how he plans to create other ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after decades with the organization, citing worries that its independence was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company and ethical values