🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch of a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with his partner, revealed that he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen stated via social media that he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its colors, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder indicated that he will create additional ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after decades with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy was undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated how “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values