🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with his partner, announced how he plans to independently develop this new product as part of a personal series showcasing issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

The recent development escalates the ongoing tension between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how the parent company along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates 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 because of its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally established several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Plans

The founder stated that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence was compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and social mission