Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Alleges Unilever Blocked Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Socially Conscious Founders advocating for social causes via frozen treats

The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever stopped the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create this new product as part of an individual collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Support

The entrepreneur revealed via an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for support for Palestinians because of its coloration, that match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created several years back to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he will create other ice cream flavors that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

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

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company 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 regarding social activism
  • Personal product development from company founders
  • Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
  • Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and ethical values
Joshua Reid
Joshua Reid

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and startup ecosystems across Europe.