🔗 Share this article

The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with his partner, announced how he will personally create the controversial product as part of a personal series highlighting issues the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

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

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that was first established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

The founder stated that he will develop other ice cream flavors that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and ethical values