Overview

• Ben & Jerry’s independent social mission board issued a statement calling the Gaza conflict a genocide, an uncommon move for a major U.S. consumer brand.
• A Unilever spokesperson said the remarks represent only the views of Ben & Jerry’s board and do not reflect corporate policy.
• The fight dates back to 2024 when Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever for allegedly trying to silence its activism on Gaza and criticism of former President Trump.
• Tensions over the company’s autonomy began in 2021 after Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in the occupied West Bank under a merger deal granting its board primary social mission authority.
• Unilever is set to spin off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry’s, into a standalone company this summer as legal battles continue.