Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Alleges Parent Company Blocked Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Flavor
The co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever blocked the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.
Ongoing Conflict Between Creators versus Corporate Owner
The recent development escalates the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.
Both founders have claimed that the parent company and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".
Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Solidarity
The entrepreneur announced through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.
“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”
The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.
Historical Activism plus Current Developments
Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.
The new dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally established in 2016 to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Management Changes and Future Intentions
The founder revealed how he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.
The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.
Previously, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.
- Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
- Personal flavor creation by original creators
- Watermelon flavor as political symbol
- Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission
