🔗 Share this article

The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever prevented the launch of a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will independently develop this new product within a personal collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen stated via an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

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

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

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first established several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed that he will create additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

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

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence so that it can achieve the social mission, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between parent company and ethical values