🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who established the company alongside his partner, disclosed how he will independently develop the controversial product within an individual series showcasing causes the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent development escalates the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally created several years back for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, after decades of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can achieve the social mission, the values that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership versus ethical values