Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Claims Parent Company Blocked Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Entrepreneurs advocating for political issues via dessert products

The co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to personally create this new flavor within an individual series showcasing issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders maintain that the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which was first established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how its independence was compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can achieve the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.

  • Parent company limitations on social activism
  • Personal product development by company founders
  • Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
  • Continuing tensions between corporate ownership and ethical values
Russell King
Russell King

A digital strategist and tech writer with over a decade of experience in software development and emerging technologies.