The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Prevented Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Entrepreneurs promoting social causes via dessert products

One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever prevented the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he will independently develop the controversial product within a personal collection highlighting issues the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur revealed via social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions for naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that originally created several years back to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder indicated that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

  • Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
  • Independent product development from original creators
  • The fruit-based product as social statement
  • Continuing disagreements among parent company and ethical values
Colin Knight
Colin Knight

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and cybersecurity trends.