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Ben & Jerry's's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has left the business after almost 50 years, deepening an existing conflict with parent company Unilever.

In a letter shared on online platforms by fellow co-founder Ben Cohen, Mr Greenfield claimed that the company no longer possessed its autonomy after Unilever restricted its advocacy efforts.

His departure marks the most recent development in a dispute that began in recent years when Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop sales in Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem.

An official representative for the ice cream division, which is being spun off from Unilever, expressed thanks to Greenfield but disagreed with his viewpoint.

A Difficult Decision

Through his message, Greenfield described departing from the firm as "one of the hardest and difficult choices" he had ever made, adding that he could no longer ethically work for a organization that had been "muzzled" by Unilever.

This occurred despite an arrangement that protected the company's social mission when it joined with the consumer goods giant 25 years ago.

Company's Response

An official for the ice cream firm stated that the company had been in dialogue with the two co-founders before Greenfield's choice to leave.

"We differ with his view and have attempted to engage both co-founders in a constructive dialogue on how to strengthen the brand's powerful values-based position in the world," they said.

Long-Standing Advocacy

Ben & Jerry's has historically been known for advocating publicly on progressive causes since its founding in the late 70s, often backing campaigns on topics like LGBTQ+ rights and environmental sustainability.

Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry's stated that its CEO, David Stever, was being ousted by Unilever.

The allegation was part of a legal case filed in a American court by the brand that alleged Unilever of violating a merger agreement by attempting to silence its "social mission".

This followed claims that Unilever had demanded the company to cease criticizing then-President Donald Trump.

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

Recent Developments

Earlier this year, Mr Cohen was detained during a protest in the US Senate over foreign assistance to the state of Israel and crisis situation in Gaza.

Protesters disrupted the hearing while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr was testifying.

Cohen was charged with a misdemeanour offence, while several other protesters were also taken into custody and face more serious allegations, authorities reported.