Ben & Jerry's Israel's New Ice Cream Flavor Sparks Confusion
Summary
Ben & Jerry’s Israel launched a new ice cream flavor called "Milk and Honey," which uses ingredients from areas affected by recent attacks. The product caused confusion because the Israeli version of Ben & Jerry’s is owned locally by a company separate from the main brand, leading to disputes over branding and politics related to Israel and Gaza.Key Facts
- Ben & Jerry’s Israel introduced a new flavor named "Milk and Honey," linked to local resilience after October 7 attacks.
- The product uses Hebrew branding and is owned by Blue & White Ice-Cream Ltd., not by Ben & Jerry’s U.S. or Unilever directly.
- Ben & Jerry’s U.S. clarified it does not operate the Israeli business; the local company controls product decisions there.
- In 2022, Unilever sold its Ben & Jerry’s Israel business to the local licensee, allowing sales in Israel and the West Bank.
- Ben & Jerry’s stopped sales in the "Occupied Palestinian Territory" in 2021, sparking legal and political controversy.
- In 2024, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever, claiming it blocked the brand’s support for Palestinians, but Unilever denied these claims.
- The conflict reflects tension between Ben & Jerry’s social mission board and the corporate parent over political stances.
- Unilever spun off its ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry’s, into the separate Magnum Ice Cream Company in 2025, complicating control issues.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.