Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Alleges Unilever Halted Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Flavor

The original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new flavor within an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Corporate Owner

This latest development deepens the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for support for Palestinians because of its colors, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder indicated that he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning worries that its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values