🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with his partner, disclosed how he will independently develop this new product within a personal collection showcasing causes the company was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur revealed via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, that match the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to create additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company in September, after many years with the organization, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented that "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can fulfill the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission