Key facts
- Ben & Jerry's Israel launched a new ice cream flavor called Milk and Honey.
- The flavor is intended to support communities in southern Israel, with ingredients sourced from local farms and businesses.
- Social media users have criticized the launch, linking it to the ongoing war in Gaza and accusing Israel of genocide.
- Some users have digitally altered the product's branding to express their criticism.
- The incident highlights ongoing disputes between Ben & Jerry's co-founders, the global brand, and its parent company Unilever regarding stances on Palestinian rights.
Ben & Jerry's Israel has introduced a new ice cream flavor, Milk and Honey, which is exclusively available in Israel and aims to support communities in southern Israel. The announcement, made via the brand's official X account, has ignited a strong backlash on social media due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The flavor's ingredients are sourced from Israeli locations, including Kibbutz Alumim near the Gaza border and a factory in Beersheba. Critics have pointed to the timing of the launch amidst the war and have used edited branding to express sentiments such as 'Genocidaires’ Delight' and 'Mmm...tastes like genocide.'
This development reignites discussions about the Ben & Jerry's brand's identity and its commitment to social justice. The co-founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, have previously advocated for Palestinian rights and have been in disputes with their parent company, Unilever, over the brand's stance on the conflict. In 2021, the global brand announced it would cease sales in occupied Palestinian territories, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli business to its local licensee, Avi Zinger. The co-founders have expressed frustration that their social mission efforts have been 'silenced' by Unilever, with Greenfield resigning due to this feeling.