Ben Cohen, the Jewish co-founder of ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, says parent company Unilever blocked his attempt to launch a flavor expressing “solidarity with Palestine.” In response, Cohen announced that he will produce the flavor independently as part of a personal series highlighting issues the company has prohibited him from addressing publicly, BBC reported.
The founders of Ben & Jerry’s are known for their outspoken social activism and have long used the brand to promote political, environmental, and humanitarian causes — including commentary on the war in Gaza. Cohen’s latest move deepens a longstanding rift between the Vermont-based ice cream maker and Unilever, which has owned Ben & Jerry’s since 2000.
Since the acquisition, Cohen and co-founder Jerry Greenfield have repeatedly clashed with Unilever executives, accusing the conglomerate of restricting their freedom to speak on social issues and violating the purchase agreement that guaranteed their independence in political expression.
Last month, Greenfield announced he was leaving the company, saying, “They’re silencing me.”
In an Instagram video announcing his latest project, Cohen said he is creating a new watermelon sorbet flavor — a reference to the watermelon’s red and green colors, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag and have become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. He invited social media followers to suggest names, recipes, and packaging designs for the flavor.
“Unilever refused to make it,” Cohen said in the video. “So I’m doing what they wouldn’t — I’m making a watermelon-flavored ice cream calling for permanent in Palestine and repairing all the damage done there.”
Cohen added that he plans to develop more flavors centered on issues Ben & Jerry’s has been “silenced” from addressing by Unilever.
Israel has long been a flashpoint in the founders’ disputes with the company. In 2022, Unilever reached a settlement allowing Israeli businessman Avi Zinger to acquire independent rights to the Ben & Jerry’s brand in Israel after the global company sought to halt sales in the West Bank.
Since the October 7 Hamas terror attack and the ensuing war in Gaza, the global Ben & Jerry’s board — which operates separately from Ben & Jerry’s Israel — has issued statements condemning Israel’s military actions, calling them a “genocide.”
“Ben & Jerry’s stands for human rights and peace,” the board said at the time. “We join those around the world condemning the genocide in Gaza.”
The Israeli branch, however, is no longer affiliated with the global brand and continues to operate independently throughout Israel.
