🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the company alongside his partner, revealed how he will independently develop this new product within an individual collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, following many years of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission