Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, is leaving the company because he feels that its parent company, Unilever, has curtailed the brand's independence to advocate for social and political issues. Greenfield expressed that Unilever has "muzzled" Ben & Jerry's and restricted its ability to campaign openly for causes it believes in, which conflicts deeply with the company's social mission, leading to his decision to resign after 47 years. He described the situation as emotionally "torn apart" and said he could no longer work "in good conscience" for a company no longer free to pursue its values independently. This tension has notably intensified around disputes regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and the company's stance on sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has led to public legal battles and a breakdown in the founders' relationship with Unilever.