The ice cream brand's Co-Founder States Parent Company Prevented Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Founders promoting political issues through dessert products

The original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company alongside his partner, revealed how he plans to personally create the controversial flavor within a personal collection showcasing causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development deepens the ongoing conflict between the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

The new product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first established several years back for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he will create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that its independence was undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can achieve the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

  • Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
  • Personal product development by company founders
  • Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
  • Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values
Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong

A theoretical physicist and science writer with a passion for making complex concepts accessible to a broad audience.