🔗 Share this article

The co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced that corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, revealed how he will personally create this new product within a personal collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

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

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally established several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen stated how he will create other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years with the organization, mentioning worries that its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated that "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can achieve the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership and ethical values