Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Halted Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Flavor

The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will independently develop this new flavor within a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the ongoing conflict among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

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

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that originally created in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company and ethical values