The iconic Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand was among the few global companies that did not face a boycott when the genocide in Palestine intensified 2 years ago. Its founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, have consistently expressed their support for the liberation of Palestine. However, their parent company, Unilever, did not share the same stance, which ultimately led to Jerry stepping down from the company.
Ben Cohen decided to remain in the company to continue his fight for its independence, while also using his platform to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide. One of the ways he has shown his support for Palestine is by creating a brand-new ice cream flavour, independently of Unilever.
Earlier this week, Ben Cohen posted a video on his official Instagram page announcing that he is creating a new ice cream flavour in solidarity with Palestine. “A while back, Ben & Jerry’s tried to create a flavour that calls for peace in Palestine — to stand for justice and dignity for everyone, as the company has always done. But they weren’t allowed to. They were stopped by Unilever/Magnum, the company that owns Ben & Jerry’s. Just like when we tried to stop selling ice cream in the occupied territories, were were blocked again by our parent company,” he explained.
Despite the obstacles, Ben remains determined to make a difference and has revealed that he will be creating a watermelon-flavoured ice cream in support of permanent peace in Palestine. “I’m doing this to shine a light on the experiences of the Palestinian people, and children in particular, so that the world does not look the other way,” he said. However, the businessman cannot do it alone. In the video, he asked the public to help suggest additional ingredients for the ice cream, as well as a name that truly represents what the product stands for.
Shortly after his announcement, fans of Ben & Jerry’s wasted no time sharing their ideas for potential ingredients to include in the ice cream. Others got creative by suggesting names for the new flavour of the dessert. Of course, many thanked Ben Cohen for his continued support for Palestine and his efforts to make a difference.
At the time of writing, it is unclear whether or not this new flavour will hit stores under the iconic brand. A spokesperson for the Magnum Ice Cream Company told the media that: “The independent members of the Ben & Jerry’s board of directors made a proposal in this direction [ice-cream flavour in support of Palestine] this summer.
The independent members of Ben & Jerry’s Board are not, and have never been, responsible for Ben & Jerry’s commercial strategy and execution. Recommendations are considered by Ben & Jerry’s leadership, and Ben & Jerry’s management has determined it is not the right time to invest in developing this product.”
Watch Ben’s video below:
Sources: Instagram, BBC, CNN, MiddleEastEye
