Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has resigned after nearly 50 years, citing Unilever’s alleged efforts to stifle the famed ice cream brand’s outspoken social mission. 

Greenfield remained an employee following Unilever’s acquisition of Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, said he could no longer “in good conscience” continue under an ownership he believes has “silenced” the brand’s commitment to social activism.

Greenfield made his decision public in a heartfelt letter, shared by his co-founder Ben Cohen on Twitter, describing it as one of the hardest and most painful steps of his career. 

He said that the independent spirit and values at the heart of Ben & Jerry’s have been diminished, alleging the company had been “sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power”. He said, “If the company couldn’t stand up for the things we believed, then it wasn’t worth being a company at all”.

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The dispute with Unilever reportedly intensified after the brand’s board attempted to block ice cream sales in Israeli-occupied territories, asserting that such activities were inconsistent with Ben & Jerry’s values. Unilever replied by selling off its Israeli operations to a local licensee and later faced legal action from Ben & Jerry’s, with allegations of “inappropriate muzzling” of the brand’s board and leadership, particularly over social issues including the situation in Gaza.

Cohen and Greenfield have repeatedly called for the brand to “be released” from Unilever but the company has resisted attempts to open its books. 

Magnum Ice Cream Company has insisted it remains committed to Ben & Jerry’s mission but both founders have vowed to keep pressing for the brand’s independence.