🔗 Share this article

The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of an individual series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the ongoing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for Palestinians because of its coloration, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company which was first established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed that he plans to create other ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, mentioning concerns that its independence was compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus social mission