🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will personally create the controversial product as part of an individual series highlighting issues the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which originally established in 2016 to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

The founder revealed that he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between parent company and social mission