Ben & Jerry's Sues Parent Company, Unilever, for Silencing Their Support Statements on Gaza

Unilever allegedly restricted its advocacy for human rights and peace, violating their contractual agreement since its acquisition.

By Thea Felicity

Nov 16 2024, 00:20 AM EST

ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLIT-ECONOMY — An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks by Ben & Jerry's ice cream in Jerusalem on July 20, 2021. - American ice cream-maker Ben & Jerry's announced on July 19, 2021 they would stop selling their ice cream in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying its sale "is inconsistent with our values." In a statement, the Unilever subsidiary said they "hear and recognise the concerns shared with us by our fans and trusted partners," without elaborating. AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Ben & Jerry's has been known for taking an outspoken stand on progressive causes and has sought to make public statements in support of peace and US students protesting the war in Gaza.

Still, its parent company, Unilever, apparently was stern in its duty as censorer of their statements, which led to a complaint in federal court in New York by the ice cream company.

In a report by AP News, Unilever also violated its contractual right by threatening to dissolve the independent board and silence the voice of the company concerning matters involving peace and refugee rights.

Is Ben & Jerry's Under Unilever?

Unilever has been a parent company of Ben & Jerry's since 2000. Both agreed that the ice cream maker would maintain their independence in terms of their social mission. The maintained part of Ben & Jerry's was its independent board, which has always had the responsibility to uphold the company's social mission-including advocating for human rights, such as support for Palestinians and calling for peace in Gaza.

Additionally, this means they can voice their support towards liberal-leaning causes. This includes but is not limited to racial justice and climate action, all without the parent company's intervention.

However, Unilever is accused of trying to curb the company's ability to deal with matters of political sensitivity, much more so now that the parent company divested its interest in Ben & Jerry's to an Israeli licensee way back in 2022.

Things between the two companies quickly spiraled into quite a tense relationship, according to the Times of Israel, when in 2021, Ben & Jerry's announced that it would no longer sell its ice cream in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem

The lawsuit details several instances where Ben & Jerry's was allegedly muzzled, including attempts to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to support protests against the war.

In addition to the legal battle over censorship, Ben & Jerry's faces other challenges due to Unilever's business decisions in March where it would be cutting thousands of jobs and spinning off its ice cream business, AP News mentioned.