The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Alleges Unilever Blocked Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Flavor
One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
Ben Cohen, who established the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to independently develop this new flavor as part of a personal collection showcasing issues the company has been prevented from speaking out about.
Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company
This latest announcement intensifies the continuing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.
The co-founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".
Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Support
The entrepreneur revealed through social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions for naming options and additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”
This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that mirror those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.
Historical Activism plus Current Developments
In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.
This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Leadership Changes and Future Plans
The founder revealed that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.
This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.
Previously, Mr. Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."
“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.
- Parent company restrictions on social activism
- Personal flavor creation from original creators
- The fruit-based product as social statement
- Ongoing disagreements between parent company versus social mission
