Ben Cohen, the co-founder of the socially conscious ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, has said that its parent company Unilever blocked the brand from launching a new flavour expressing “solidarity with Palestine.”

Cohen revealed that he plans to independently produce and release the flavour as part of a personal series of ice creams that highlight causes the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.

“Unilever refused to let us make it,” Cohen said, adding that he would move forward with his own initiative to give voice to social and humanitarian concerns.

Ben & Jerry’s, which has long been known for using its products to spotlight social justice issues, has previously spoken out on matters including climate change, racial equality, and the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Vermont-based brand has also faced controversies in recent years, particularly after announcing in 2021 that it would stop selling its products in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories—a decision that led to legal disputes and public backlash.

Unilever has not yet commented on Cohen’s latest remarks.

Cohen said his upcoming ice cream line would continue the tradition of using the dessert as a platform for activism, stating that “ice cream can be a tool for peace, not division