The ice cream brand's Founding Partner Claims Parent Company Prevented Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor

The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to independently develop this new flavor within an individual series showcasing causes the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the ongoing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed that the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated how he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among parent company versus ethical values