🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company Unilever blocked the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that established the business alongside his partner, announced how he will personally create the controversial product within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

The recent development escalates the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain that the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced via social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based 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 solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he will create other ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions between corporate ownership and ethical values