🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial product as part of a personal collection showcasing causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the ongoing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for Palestinians because of its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company in September, after many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence had been compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented that "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values