🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he will independently develop the controversial product as part of an individual collection showcasing issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement intensifies the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally established several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder stated how he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades with the organization, citing worries that its independence had been compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission