Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Claims Parent Company Halted Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Founders advocating for political issues through frozen treats

The original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the business with his partner, revealed that he will independently develop this new product as part of a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that originally established in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries that its independence had been compromised after corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

  • Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
  • Personal flavor creation from original creators
  • Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
  • Continuing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission
Morgan Harper
Morgan Harper

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on society.