One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new product as part of a personal collection showcasing issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.
This latest development escalates the continuing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.
Both founders have claimed how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".
Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.
“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”
This particular fruit has become a symbol of support for Palestinians because of its colors, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.
In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.
The new dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which the company was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.
This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades of involvement, citing concerns that its independence was undermined after corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.
Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.
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