🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, revealed that he will independently develop the controversial product as part of an individual collection highlighting causes the company was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators versus Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the ongoing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues which the company was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following decades of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership versus social mission