Ben & Jerry’s sues Unilever for allegedly suppressing their support for Palestine
Ben & Jerry’s has sued its parent company Unilever for allegedly silencing its attempts to express support for Palestinian refugees and threatening to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue. (Reuters) pic.twitter.com/7BrbCUHhht
- Pop Base (@PopBase) November 14, 2024
Ben & Jerry's states that it has tried to call for a ceasefire, support the safe passage of Palestinian refugees, support students protesting at U.S. colleges, and advocate for a halt in U.S. military aid to Israel, but has been blocked by Unilever.
The lawsuit adds to existing tensions between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever, which is planning to cut 7,500 jobs from its ice cream portfolio. Magnum and Ben & Jerry's will soon be its own standalone company, and B&J aren't too happy about the cost cutting that only seems to benefit those at the top.
In 2021, Ben & Jerry's said it would stop selling its products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a decision that caused some investors to divest from Unilever. The Chubby Hubby makers then sued Unilever for selling ice cream in Israel anyway. That lawsuit was settled in 2022 under the agreement Unilever provides $5 million to Ben & Jerry's so they can make donations to human rights groups.
Ben & Jerry's sold to Unilever in 2000 to gain access to a larger market while still maintaining their commitment to social activism. Unilever agreed to uphold their company culture as part of the deal, but the partnership continues to strain thanks to Unilever's unwavering corporatism.
Do you think Ben & Jerry's will be successful in its fight against Unilever, ONTD?
What is your favorite B&J flavor? (Milk & Cookies is underrated imo!)
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