🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever prevented the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will independently develop this new flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for Palestinians because of its colors, that mirror those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally established several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years with the organization, citing concerns that its independence was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Personal product development from original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission