Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Alleges Parent Company Halted Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Entrepreneurs promoting social causes through frozen treats

The original creators behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company

The recent development intensifies the continuing disagreement among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur revealed through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally created in 2016 for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder indicated how he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns which the company was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after decades of involvement, mentioning worries that the company's autonomy was compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

  • Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
  • Independent flavor creation by original creators
  • Watermelon flavor as social statement
  • Ongoing tensions between parent company versus social mission
John Bush
John Bush

A tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in gaming industry analysis, specializing in slot machine innovations and digital trends.