🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever prevented the introduction of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will independently develop this new product as part of an individual collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians because of its coloration, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new product line will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after decades of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
• Personal product development by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership and social mission