The co-founder of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, Ben Cohen, has publicly stated that its parent company, Unilever, blocked the company from launching a new ice cream flavor that expressed 'solidarity with Palestine.' In response to this decision, Cohen has decided to independently create the flavor as part of a personal project aimed at highlighting social causes that the company has been barred from addressing publicly.
Known for its unique blends and activism on political and social issues, Ben & Jerry's has previously made its voice known on significant matters like the Israel-Gaza conflict. However, the current situation intensifies the long-standing dispute between the ice cream giant and Unilever, which acquired the company in 2000.
In a recent Instagram video, Cohen announced plans for a watermelon-flavored sorbet, intended to symbolize solidarity with Palestine, echoing the colors of the Palestinian flag - red, green, black, and white. 'I'm doing what they couldn't,' says Cohen, expressing a strong desire for 'permanent peace in Palestine' and an effort to rectify damage done there.
Previous actions by Ben & Jerry's included refusing to sell ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, a decision that led to the sale of its Israeli operation to a local licensee. This development will be part of Cohen's activist brand, Ben's Best, founded in 2016 to support social causes. Cohen's plan reportedly includes developing flavors that address topics previously silenced by Unilever.
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder alongside Cohen, recently stepped down from Ben & Jerry's, citing concerns over the company's independence and its commitment to social activism, stating that the conflict with Unilever was affecting his heart deeply.
Cohen emphasized, 'My heart leads me to continue to advocate for the company's independence to actualize its social mission,' a sentiment that resonates deeply with the company's origins and values.
