🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with his partner, revealed how he plans to personally create this new product within a personal series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the continuing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

The founder indicated that he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was compromised after corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values