Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner States Parent Company Blocked Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Flavor
The original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company Unilever blocked the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.
Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside his partner, revealed that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company was prevented from addressing publicly.
Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders and Parent Company
This latest announcement deepens the continuing conflict between the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.
The co-founders have asserted how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".
Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Support
Mr. Cohen stated through social media how he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and potential ingredients.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”
This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Historical Social Engagement and Recent Changes
Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.
The new dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first established several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Management Shifts and Future Plans
Mr. Cohen stated how he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.
This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades with the organization, citing concerns that its independence was compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.
At that time, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.
- Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
- Independent flavor creation from original creators
- The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
- Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values