🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual collection highlighting issues the company was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators versus Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the continuing tension between the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

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

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians because of its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally established several years back to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company in September, following many years of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between parent company and social mission