Ben & Jerry’s co-founder quits the company

(NBC, KYMA) - Ben and Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the company after 47 years.

In a letter addressing the Ben & Jerry's community, which was shared by his partner, Ben Cohen, on social media platform X Tuesday, Greenfield said the company has lost its independence since Unilever curtailed its social activism.

Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have clashed since 2021, when the Chubby Hubby maker said it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Greenfield and Cohen sold their company to Unilever in 2000, and according to Greenfield, were guaranteed the "independence to pursue their values."

In March, Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of breaching its merger agreement for ousting its then-CEO David Stever over the brand's public comments on progressive issues.

In January, the ice-cream company alleged that Unilever "unilaterally barred" a post referencing abortion, climate change and universal healthcare because it mentioned President Donald Trump.

Unilever has rejected all these claims.