Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder States Unilever Blocked Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Flavor
One of the original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch of a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.
The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside his partner, disclosed how he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting issues the company has been prevented from speaking out about.
Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner
This latest announcement escalates the continuing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.
The co-founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".
The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support
Mr. Cohen stated via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”
This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.
Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Changes
Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.
The new dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Management Shifts plus Upcoming Plans
Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create other frozen dessert varieties that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.
The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how its independence was compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.
At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."
"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.
- Parent company limitations regarding social activism
- Personal flavor creation from company founders
- The fruit-based product as political symbol
- Continuing tensions between corporate ownership and ethical values