Ben & Jerry's Sues Unilever Over Support Restrictions

Ben & Jerry's has filed a lawsuit against its parent company Unilever, claiming it has been silenced in its attempts to support Palestinian refugees and advocate for peace. The lawsuit, presented in a New York court, alleges that Unilever violated a 2022 settlement agreement that required the company to respect Ben & Jerry's independent board's authority over its social mission. Tensions between the two companies escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced it would cease sales in Israeli-occupied territories, leading to previous legal disputes. The ice cream brand asserts it has attempted to make public statements on four occasions regarding humanitarian issues but was blocked by Unilever each time. Unilever has denied these allegations and stated it will defend its position vigorously. The case highlights ongoing conflicts over corporate social responsibility and political activism within the consumer goods industry.