Ben & Jerry's Sparks Controversy with Launch of 'Milk and Honey' Ice Cream Bearing Israeli Script

The launch of Ben & Jerry’s newest ice cream variant, titled Milk and Honey, has sparked controversy on social media. The move has reopened a long-standing debate regarding the ice cream brand’s relationship with Israel, Gaza, and Ben & Jerry’s independence from its parent company. The new variant was initially introduced as a community resilience project in southern Israel. Ben & Jerry’s Israel stated the ice cream was made using ingredients sourced from communities affected by the 7 October 2023 attacks. The product launch quickly drew attention after Israel’s official account on platform X posted a message stating, ‘Israel now has an official ice cream flavour,’ accompanied by an image of Ben & Jerry’s-style packaging with Hebrew script. The post triggered confusion among social media users. Some questioned whether the product truly represented Ben & Jerry’s globally, whilst others levelled criticism regarding Israel’s policies in Gaza. Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s in the United States explained that the company does not own or operate the Ben & Jerry’s business in Israel. ‘The Hebrew and Arabic versions of the Ben & Jerry’s name are owned and operated by Blue & White Ice-Cream Ltd. Product decisions in that market, including local flavour development, are made by the local owner and operator,’ the spokesperson told Newsweek.