🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual collection showcasing issues the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the continuing tension between the world-famous dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 to support former political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following many years of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company and ethical values