The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Blocked Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor

One of the co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, revealed that he will independently develop this new product as part of an individual series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for Palestinians because of its coloration, which mirror those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Current Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company in September, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Independent product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership and ethical values