The ice cream brand's Founding Partner States Parent Company Blocked Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Socially Conscious Founders advocating for social causes via dessert products

One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the company with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create this new flavor as part of a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict among the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders maintain how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, which mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Recent Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that was first created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

  • Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
  • Independent flavor creation from original creators
  • The fruit-based product serving as social statement
  • Continuing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission
Kristina Larson
Kristina Larson

A passionate storyteller and digital content creator, Elara crafts engaging narratives that captivate readers worldwide.