Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Alleges Parent Company Halted Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Flavor

The original creators behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop the controversial product as part of an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that originally established several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Intentions

The founder indicated how he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues that the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, after many years of involvement, mentioning worries that its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission