🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with his partner, announced that he plans to independently develop this new product within a personal series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

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

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

Historical Activism plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

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

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

The founder indicated how he will develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus social mission