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Ben & Jerry's's founding member Jerry Greenfield has exited the business after almost five decades, intensifying an ongoing conflict with corporate owner the multinational conglomerate.

In a letter published on online platforms by co-creator Ben Cohen, Greenfield stated that the company no longer possessed its autonomy after Unilever restricted its social activism.

His departure marks the latest chapter in a controversy that began in recent years when Ben & Jerry's declared it would stop selling in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

An official representative for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is being separated from Unilever, expressed thanks to Greenfield but diverged with his viewpoint.

A Painful Decision

Through his letter, Greenfield described leaving the firm as "one of the hardest and most painful decisions" he had ever made, adding that he could no longer ethically work for a business that had been "muzzled" by Unilever.

This occurred despite an agreement that safeguarded the company's ethical values when it joined with the consumer goods giant decades prior.

Corporate Reaction

A spokesperson for the ice cream firm stated that the company had been in dialogue with the two co-founders before Mr Greenfield's choice to depart.

"We disagree with his view and have sought to engage both founders in a productive conversation on how to bolster Ben & Jerry's's powerful principle-driven standing in the world," they commented.

History of Advocacy

The company has historically been known for advocating publicly on progressive causes since its establishment in 1978, often supporting movements on topics like LGBTQ+ rights and environmental sustainability.

Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry's stated that its chief executive, David Stever, was being removed by Unilever.

The allegation was part of a lawsuit submitted in a US court by Ben & Jerry's that accused Unilever of breaching a contract by attempting to silence its "ethical advocacy".

This followed claims that Unilever had instructed the company to cease publicly criticising US President Donald Trump.

A representative stated that the corporation was "unhappy that the confidentiality of an employee career conversation has been made public".

Additional Events

In May, Mr Cohen was arrested during a demonstration in the American Senate over foreign assistance to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Protesters interrupted the hearing while a government official Robert Kennedy Jr was speaking.

Mr Cohen was charged with a misdemeanour offence, while a number of other protesters were also arrested and are confronting more serious charges, law enforcement stated.