🔗 Share this article

The original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the company with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to independently develop this new product as part of a personal collection showcasing causes the company was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators and Parent Company

The recent development deepens the continuing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Support

The entrepreneur stated via social media how he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first established several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed that he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after decades with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was undermined after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions between corporate ownership versus social mission