The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Claims Parent Company Halted Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Flavor

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Founders advocating for political issues through dessert products

One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will independently develop this new flavor within a personal series highlighting issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest development escalates the ongoing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years with the organization, citing concerns that its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

  • Parent company limitations regarding social activism
  • Independent flavor creation by original creators
  • Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
  • Continuing tensions between parent company and ethical values
James Newton
James Newton

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping startups scale through innovative marketing campaigns.