Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder States Unilever Prevented Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Product

One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the company with his partner, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial product within a personal collection showcasing causes the company was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have claimed that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first established several years back to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Future Plans

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

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries that its independence was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership versus social mission