Wed Sep 17 10:55:20 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, written from a general news perspective, followed by a summary.

**News Article:**

**Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Jerry Greenfield Resigns, Citing Unilever’s Silencing of Social Activism**

**VERMONT, USA – September 17, 2025** – Jerry Greenfield, the cofounder of iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has resigned from the company after 47 years, citing a growing rift with parent company Unilever over curtailed social activism.

The announcement was made public today in an open letter to the Ben & Jerry’s community, shared by cofounder Ben Cohen on social media platform X. In the letter, Mr. Greenfield states that Ben & Jerry’s has lost its independence since being acquired by U.K.-based Unilever and can no longer in good conscience continue working for a company that has been silenced by Unilever.

The dispute between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever has been brewing since 2021, when the ice cream maker announced it would halt sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, taking a firm stance against the occupation. The brand even sued its parent company over alleged efforts to silence it and described the Gaza conflict as genocide, a rare stance for a major U.S. corporation.

Mr. Greenfield lamented that the brand’s unique merger agreement with Unilever, designed to protect its social mission, had been compromised.

A spokesperson for Magnum Ice Cream, another Unilever-owned brand, responded, stating the company disagrees with Mr. Greenfield’s perspective and has sought constructive dialogue with both cofounders. Unilever has yet to release a statement.

Last week, Mr. Cohen revealed that Ben & Jerry’s attempted to engineer a sale to investors for $1.5 to $2.5 billion amid the ongoing tension, but the proposal was rejected. The resignation marks a significant turning point in the relationship between the socially conscious ice cream brand and its corporate parent, raising questions about the future of Ben & Jerry’s commitment to its founding values.

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