🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial product as part of a personal series showcasing issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that originally established in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, mentioning worries that its independence had been compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company and social mission