🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that established the company with his partner, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual collection highlighting causes the company was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol for Support

The entrepreneur revealed via an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

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

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, citing concerns that its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Personal product development by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission