🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to personally create the controversial product within a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

The recent development intensifies the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders maintain that the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder stated that he will develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years of involvement, mentioning concerns that its independence had been compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

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

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission