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The iconic ice cream company's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has exited the company after nearly 50 years, intensifying an ongoing conflict with corporate owner the multinational conglomerate.

In a letter published on online platforms by fellow co-founder Ben Cohen, Mr Greenfield asserted that the company no longer possessed its autonomy after Unilever halted its social activism.

The exit represents the latest chapter in a dispute that started in recent years when Ben & Jerry's declared it would cease selling in disputed territories in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

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

A Painful Decision

Through his letter, Mr Greenfield characterized leaving the firm as "one of the hardest and most painful choices" he had taken, adding that he could no longer ethically be part of a business that had been "muzzled" by Unilever.

This was despite an agreement that safeguarded the brand's social mission when it merged with the consumer goods giant 25 years ago.

Corporate Response

An official for The Magnum Ice Cream Company mentioned that the organization had been in discussions with both co-founders before Mr Greenfield's decision to depart.

"We differ with his perspective and have attempted to involve both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to bolster the brand's powerful values-based standing in the world," they commented.

Long-Standing Advocacy

Ben & Jerry's has long been recognized for advocating publicly on social issues since its founding in the late 70s, often supporting campaigns on topics like equality rights and environmental sustainability.

In recent months, Ben & Jerry's claimed that its CEO, David Stever, was being removed by Unilever.

The allegation was included in a lawsuit submitted in a American court by the brand that accused Unilever of violating a merger agreement by trying to suppress its "social mission".

It came after claims that Unilever had demanded the company to stop criticizing then-President Donald Trump.

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

Recent Events

In May, Ben Cohen was detained during a demonstration in the American Senate over military aid to the state of Israel and crisis situation in the Gaza Strip.

Protesters disrupted the session while a government official Robert Kennedy Jr was speaking.

Mr Cohen was charged with a minor violation, while a number of other demonstrators were also arrested and are confronting additional allegations, authorities stated.