Ben and Jerry’s co-founder defies Unilever, creates flavor to promote peace in Palestine

Ben Cohen, one of the co-founders of the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, revealed that the parent company, Unilever/Magnum Ice Cream, had stopped him from creating a watermelon ice cream flavor “to call for peace in Palestine.” However, he is no longer waiting for their approval.

In a video shared on Instagram and X on Tuesday, the 74-year-old co-founder criticized Unilever for blocking his brand from introducing a flavor “to stand for justice and dignity for everyone.”

“A while back, Ben & Jerry’s tried to make a flavor to call for peace in Palestine… but they weren’t allowed to,” he said, adding that the move resembled earlier conflicts over ending sales in illegal Israeli settlements. “They were stopped by Unilever/Magnum.”

"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 is much more work to do to rebuild. Palestinians are still living under occupation, still recovering from years of suffering, especially Palestinian children," Ben Cohen emphasised

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
Tag @yobencohen, @MagnumGlobal use… pic.twitter.com/L3h6Z4Hzw6

— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) October 28, 2025

Cohen revealed he is now taking matters into his own hands. Mixing watermelon in a bowl, he  independently created the flavor, one that calls for “permanent peace in Palestine” and supports “repairing all the damage that was done there.”

He invited viewers to suggest additional ingredients and packaging artwork, saying “revolutions are creative” and encouraging public participation in the project. Cohen’s message emphasized the suffering of Palestinians, especially children, and the urgent need for lasting peace and protection.

“The scale of suffering of the Palestinian people over the last two years has been unimaginable,” he said. “The ceasefire is a welcome relief, but there’s much more work to do to rebuild.”

Many users shared ideas in the comments, including one suggestion for the name From the River to the Seedless Watermelon.