Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Alleges Unilever Blocked Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Product
One of the original creators behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.
The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside his partner, revealed how he will independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual series highlighting issues the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.
Ongoing Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company
The recent announcement deepens the ongoing tension between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.
The co-founders maintain that Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".
Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity
Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”
This particular fruit has become an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Historical Activism and Current Changes
Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.
This upcoming dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally created several years back for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Management Changes and Upcoming Plans
Mr. Cohen indicated how he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.
The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company in September, after decades with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.
At that time, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."
"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.
- Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
- Independent flavor creation from company founders
- The fruit-based product as political symbol
- Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values