🔗 Share this article

The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will personally create the controversial product as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted 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 for Support

Mr. Cohen announced through social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to create other ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership versus social mission