Ben Cohen Creates Palestine-Themed Sorbet After Unilever’s Intervention
One of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s is stepping into the spotlight with his own Palestine-themed sorbet, after claims surfaced that parent company Unilever stalled the ice cream brand from launching a new flavor.
Ben Cohen announced on Tuesday that Unilever and its Magnum Ice Cream division “prevented Ben & Jerry’s from creating flavors for Palestine.”
“So I’m doing what they couldn’t do,” he mentioned while preparing watermelon juice. In a video he shared on social media, Cohen said, “I am making watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for lasting peace in Palestine and for the repair of all the damage done to Palestine.”
The watermelon has become a powerful emblem of Palestinian unity, often appearing on protest signs and social media due to its colors resembling the Palestinian flag.
Cohen invited supporters to contribute ideas for ingredients and pint designs, announcing that the best submission would get to create a flavor and have their design featured.
Responses from Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever, and Magnum have not yet been received.
This incident adds to the ongoing friction between the liberal founders of Ben & Jerry’s, known for quirky flavors like Fish Food and Chunky Monkey, and its corporate owner, Unilever.
The tensions began in 2021 when an announcement was made that the ice cream company would cease sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Following that, Unilever sold the company’s license for the region.
Since then, Cohen and his co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, have accused the parent company of silencing the brand’s progressive stance.
In November of the previous year, independent directors at Ben & Jerry’s launched a lawsuit against Unilever, alleging it prevented the ice cream brand from advocating for Palestinian refugees.
According to court documents, the board accused Unilever of suddenly dismissing Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stiebo without giving them a chance to meet replacement candidates. Stiebo had joined the company in 1988.
The board claimed it was sidelined during the appointment of new CEO Jochanan Senff, an executive from Unilever, due to the company’s political stance.
Keeping an independent board of directors was a crucial part of the agreement when Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000.
Cohen has recently urged his roughly 95,000 followers on social media to contact Magnum’s CEO and board of directors.
He pointed out that the recent government shutdown has caused delays in initial public offerings, including Magnum’s, presenting a “chance to free up Ben & Jerry’s.”
When Unilever announced earlier this year the separation of its ice cream division, it also stated it had no plans to sell Ben & Jerry’s, despite bids from Cohen and Greenfield.
The two lifelong friends from Long Island, New York, established Ben & Jerry’s in 1978 before selling the brand to Unilever for $326 million.
