Ben Cohen, co-founder of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, claims that its parent company Unilever blocked the launch of an ice cream flavor intended to show solidarity with Palestine. In light of this, Cohen has announced plans to independently create a new flavor, focusing on causes his company has been restricted from addressing due to corporate constraints.
Ben & Jerry's has a history of activism surrounding social issues, making statements about political, environmental, and humanitarian matters, including positions related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Cohen's revelation heightens the ongoing dispute between the well-known ice cream brand and Unilever, which has owned the company since 2000. Cohen noted that Unilever had legally prevented Ben & Jerry's from following its social mission.
To counteract Unilever's restrictions, Cohen revealed in a recent Instagram video his plan to develop a watermelon-flavored sorbet, emphasizing the fruit's symbolism of Palestinian solidarity. He stated, I'm doing what they couldn't, indicating his dedication to creating a flavor that promotes permanent peace in Palestine.
In 2021, Ben & Jerry's made headlines by refusing to sell products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling its Israeli operation to a local licensee. Cohen's upcoming watermelon sorbet will be part of a new series produced under his activist brand, Ben's Best, which launched to support political issues in 2016.
As Cohen pursues this new flavor, he expresses hope to address the social issues that Unilever has silenced him from discussing publicly. The tension between corporate operations and social activism within Ben & Jerry's serves as a reflection of larger conflicts in the business world regarding social responsibility.
