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Ben & Jerry's's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has exited the company after almost five decades, intensifying an existing disagreement with parent company Unilever.

Through a message shared on social media by co-creator Ben Cohen, Greenfield claimed that the company no longer possessed its independence after Unilever curtailed its advocacy efforts.

His departure represents the most recent development in a controversy that began in 2021 when the brand declared it would stop selling in disputed territories in the Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem.

A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is being separated from Unilever, expressed thanks to Mr Greenfield but disagreed with his stance.

A Difficult Decision

Through his letter, Mr Greenfield described leaving the firm as "among the toughest and most painful decisions" he had taken, adding that he could no longer in good conscience work for a organization that had been "silenced" by Unilever.

This occurred despite an agreement that protected the brand's ethical values when it merged with the global corporation 25 years ago.

Corporate Reaction

An official for The Magnum Ice Cream Company stated that the organization had been in discussions with the two founders before Greenfield's decision to depart.

"We differ with his view and have attempted to engage both founders in a productive dialogue on how to strengthen the brand's powerful values-based standing in the world," they said.

History of Activism

Ben & Jerry's has historically been recognized for advocating publicly on progressive causes since its founding in the late 70s, often supporting movements on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change.

In recent months, the company stated that its chief executive, David Stever, was being removed by Unilever.

This claim was part of a legal case submitted in a American court by the brand that accused Unilever of breaching a merger agreement by trying to silence its "social mission".

This followed accusations that Unilever had demanded the firm to cease criticizing US President Donald Trump.

A Unilever spokesperson stated that the corporation was "disappointed that the confidentiality of an internal discussion has been made public".

Additional Events

Earlier this year, Ben Cohen was arrested during a protest in the US Senate over foreign assistance to the state of Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Demonstrators disrupted the hearing while a government official Robert F Kennedy Jr was speaking.

Mr Cohen was charged with a minor violation, while several other protesters were also arrested and face more serious charges, law enforcement reported.