The co-founder of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's says that its parent company Unilever blocked it from launching an ice cream flavour that expressed solidarity with Palestine.
Ben Cohen announced that he will independently create the new flavour as part of a personal series highlighting causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.
Ben & Jerry's is known for its activism on social issues and has consistently spoken out on political, environmental, and humanitarian matters - including the Israel-Gaza conflict.
A spokesperson for the Magnum Ice Cream Company, Unilever's ice cream arm, stated that it had determined that now is not the right time to invest in developing this product.
Mr Cohen's statement deepens the long-drawn dispute between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever, which has owned the brand since 2000.
The co-founders accused Unilever and Magnum of unlawfully blocking their company from honouring its social mission.
Magnum mentioned that the independent members of Ben & Jerry's Board are not responsible for the brand's commercial strategy and execution.
The company plans to focus on various campaigns, including improving conditions in UK refugee accommodation and advocating for freedom of speech rights in the United States.
Mr Cohen mentioned on Instagram that he is creating a new watermelon-flavoured sorbet, inspired by the watermelon’s colors resembling the Palestinian flag.
He expressed his determination to make a watermelon-flavoured ice cream promoting permanent peace in Palestine and repairing the damage caused in the region.
This initiative comes after Ben & Jerry's decision in 2021 to cease sales in Israeli settlements, allowing their products to continue being sold in the occupied West Bank through a local licensee.
Cohen's new flavor will be developed under his activist brand, Ben's Best, which was established in 2016 to support political causes.
Mr Cohen also plans to create other flavors addressing issues that Unilever has silenced Ben & Jerry's from discussing.
Concerns regarding the brand's independence led Jerry Greenfield, another co-founder, to step down from Ben & Jerry's in September, stating the current conflicts with Unilever were affecting his emotional well-being.
Cohen emphasized his commitment to work towards the brand's original social mission, reflecting its values maintained for over 40 years.
