🔗 Share this article

The original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with his partner, revealed how he plans to personally create this new product within a personal series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Between Founders versus Parent Company

The recent development deepens the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for support for Palestinians because of its colors, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he will develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that its independence was undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence so that the company can achieve the social mission, the values which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus social mission