🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with his partner, revealed how he will personally create the controversial flavor within an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Parent Company

This latest announcement escalates the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, following many years of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership versus social mission