The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Prevented Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Flavor

Ice cream activism illustration
Socially Conscious Entrepreneurs promoting social causes via frozen treats

The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the continuing disagreement between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how the parent company along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen revealed through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally created in 2016 for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can fulfill the social mission, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

  • Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
  • Independent flavor creation by original creators
  • Watermelon flavor as social statement
  • Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission
Kristen Clements
Kristen Clements

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino reviews and player strategy development.