🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed how parent company Unilever stopped the launch for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who established the company alongside his partner, disclosed that he plans to personally create this new product as part of a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the continuing tension among the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which was first established several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years with the organization, mentioning worries that its independence was undermined following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill the social mission, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values