Anuradha Mittal, who served as chair of Ben & Jerry's independent board for seven years, has been removed from her position by Magnum Ice Cream Company, the brand's current owner. Magnum stated that this decision followed an investigation commissioned by external advisors, which concluded that Mittal "no longer met the criteria to serve" on the board. Concurrently, two other board members are also slated for departure due to new operational changes.
Mittal informed the BBC that Magnum had threatened to publish "defamatory statements" about her if she did not resign. She also alleged that she was offered a significant role in a "multimillion-dollar Unilever-funded non-profit" in exchange for her resignation, an offer she declined, describing it as "inappropriate." Mittal, who is the founder of the Oakland Institute, a human rights and development think tank, characterized Magnum's actions as a "public smear campaign" and asserted that the allegations against her were unfounded.
In response, Magnum issued a statement outlining changes to the board's operational structure, including the introduction of a nine-year term limit for members. A spokesperson for Magnum indicated that these measures are intended to strengthen corporate governance and "reaffirm the responsibilities of the Board of Ben & Jerry's." The spokesperson further stated that these actions aim "to preserve and enhance the brand's historical social mission and safeguard its essential integrity."
Magnum also reported that an audit of the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, a charitable organization, had "identified a series of material deficiencies in financial controls, governance and other compliance policies, including conflicts of interest."
This dispute represents an escalation of ongoing disagreements between Ben & Jerry's independent board and its owner regarding the brand's autonomy and social mission. Ben & Jerry's was acquired by Unilever in 2000 under terms that allowed it to maintain an independent board and the authority over decisions related to its social objectives. This arrangement frequently generated friction during Unilever's ownership.
Previous instances of disagreement include Ben & Jerry's refusal in 2021 to sell its products in Israeli-occupied areas, which resulted in Unilever selling its Israeli operation to a local licensee. Additionally, Ben Cohen, a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, stated in October that the company was prevented from launching an ice cream expressing "solidarity with Palestine."
Earlier this month, Unilever separated its ice cream division, forming Magnum Ice Cream Company, which now owns Ben & Jerry's and has inherited the ongoing dispute. Magnum, which also encompasses brands such as Cornetto, Wall's, and Carte D'Or, is currently the world's largest ice cream producer.
Despite the controversy, Magnum has affirmed its "unequivocal commitment to Ben & Jerry's three-part mission – product, economic and social – and its progressive, non-partisan values." The company added that "Ben & Jerry's continues to advocate for a range of causes and be a bold voice for social justice."
Jerry Greenfield, a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, left the firm in September, citing his belief that its social mission was being stifled. Ben Cohen, the other co-founder, has also publicly stated that Magnum is "not fit" to own the firm.