Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Says Unilever Blocked A Palestine Ice Cream Flavor—So He’s Making One Himself
When Jerry of Ben & Jerry’s left the company earlier this year, it marked the end of an era, but more importantly, it was a show of integrity. In a letter of resignation, shared by Ben Cohen, Greenfield said, “Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.”
If you know anything about Ben & Jerry’s, you know that the company has a long history of standing up for social justice, which is an ethos that was written into their agreement with parent company Unilever.
Now, Cohen is pushing back against Unilever’s alleged bullying, which he says has prevented Ben & Jerry’s from making an ice cream dedicated to Palestine. In an October 28 post shared on X, Cohen says, “Unilever / Magnum stopped Ben & Jerry’s from creating a flavor for Palestine — so I’m doing it myself. I’ve got a watermelon, an empty pint, and I need your help: Name the flavor or suggest ingredients or design the pint packaging.”
Due to their color, which matches the Palestinian flag, watermelons have become a symbol of solidarity. Cohen spoke more about the situation in a video, saying:
“Here I am making something that’s actually pretty important. The scale of suffering of the Palestinian people over the last two years has been unimaginable. So the ceasefire is a welcome relief, but there’s much more work to do to rebuild. Palestinians are still living under occupation, still recovering from years of suffering, especially Palestinian children.”
He also said that he believes that Palestinians “deserve dignity, safety, and the same rights that every human being should have.” When Ben & Jerry’s initially tried making an ice cream to promote peace in Palestine, Unilever/Magnum prevented the company from creating it. Unilever also blocked Ben & Jerry’s from selling ice cream in occupied territories. Fed up yet determined, Cohen decided to make the ice cream himself.
If you’re someone looking to support the cause and have an idea of what ingredients would blend best with watermelon, Cohen wants you to tag him on X at @yobencohen, along with @MagnumGlobal, and include the hashtag #JusticeforPalestine. He hopes that the ice cream will “shine a light on the experience of Palestinian people, and children in particular, so the world does not look the other way.”
Unilever / Magnum stopped Ben & Jerry’s from creating a flavor for Palestine — so I’m doing it
— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) October 28, 2025
myself.
I’ve got a watermelon, an empty pint, and I need your help:
Name the flavor or suggest ingredients
Or design the pint packaging
Tag @yobencohen, @MagnumGlobal use… pic.twitter.com/L3h6Z4Hzw6
According to FOX Business, a spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company responded to the accusation, saying:
“The independent members of Ben & Jerry’s Board are not, and have never been, responsible for the Ben & Jerry’s commercial strategy and execution. Recommendations are considered by Ben & Jerry’s leadership, and Ben & Jerry’s management has determined now is not the right time to invest in developing this product.”
The company added that it “continues to focus on its ongoing, impactful campaigns close to its communities” and shared a few examples, none of which involve or address the genocide in Gaza.
