🔗 Share this article Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Claims Parent Company Prevented Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor Activist Founders promoting political issues through frozen treats One of the original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product. The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create this new product as part of an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly. Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Corporate Owner This latest announcement deepens the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000. Both founders have asserted how Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles". The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Support Mr. Cohen stated via an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options plus additional components. “I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.” The watermelon has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white. Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories. The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back". Management Changes and Upcoming Plans The founder stated how he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever. This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning concerns that its independence was undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work. At that time, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him." "My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for its independence so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets. Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy Independent flavor creation by company founders Watermelon flavor serving as social statement Continuing disagreements between parent company and ethical values