🔗 Share this article

The co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside his partner, announced how he will personally create the controversial flavor within an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing conflict between the world-famous ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally created several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed how he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

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

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between parent company and social mission