🔗 Share this article

The original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside his partner, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial product within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders maintain that Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

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

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for Palestinians due to its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new product line is being created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Future Intentions

The founder revealed that he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, after many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence so that it can fulfill the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission