🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the business alongside his partner, disclosed that he plans to personally create this new flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators and Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension among the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder stated in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which was first created several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

The founder stated how he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which the company was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can actualise the social mission, the values that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values