The former chairwoman of Ben & Jerry’s independent board has filed a defamation lawsuit against Unilever and its newly created ice cream division, claiming the companies destroyed her reputation because of her stance on Palestinian rights.
Anuradha Mittal, who lost her position as board chair in December, filed the legal action Thursday in federal court in Oakland, California. She alleges that Unilever and its spun-off Magnum ice cream company deliberately damaged her credibility following her vocal support for Palestinian rights and calls for a Gaza ceasefire.
The legal battle intensifies an ongoing conflict between Ben & Jerry’s leadership and Unilever over what the ice cream brand describes as corporate interference with their independence and progressive values, including the previous removal of former CEO Dave Stever.
Representatives from both Unilever and Magnum dismissed Mittal’s allegations as “unfounded” in separate public statements, expressing confidence that the court proceedings will vindicate their position.
According to Mittal’s court filing, her advocacy for Palestinian causes and ceasefire efforts “rankled” Unilever executives, with tensions intensifying after the company announced the Magnum spinoff last March.
The lawsuit details various allegedly false accusations against Mittal, including claims of financial misconduct, accepting inappropriate benefits, misusing nonprofit foundation resources, fostering workplace toxicity, and being unsuitable for leadership following company investigations.
“Defendants achieved their goal of thoroughly humiliating and discrediting Ms. Mittal,” the complaint states, describing damage to her professional standing and personal health effects including depression and sleep disorders.
Following December’s corporate restructuring, Unilever maintains a minority 19.9% ownership in Magnum, which now oversees multiple ice cream brands including Breyers, Klondike and Wall’s.
Mittal seeks both compensatory and punitive financial awards, arguing that Unilever and Magnum demonstrated “actual malice” by knowingly spreading false information or showing reckless disregard for accuracy.
The plaintiff, originally from Kanpur, India, currently leads the Oakland Institute, a research organization advocating for farmers, indigenous populations, forest communities and pastoral groups.
Ben & Jerry’s has maintained its commitment to social causes since Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield established the company in 1978, continuing this mission after Unilever’s 2000 acquisition.
The corporate relationship deteriorated significantly in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would cease ice cream sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank territories.
Last November, Ben & Jerry’s initiated separate litigation against Unilever, seeking to prevent what they characterize as systematic efforts to eliminate their independent board and suppress their progressive activism, which has included criticism of President Donald Trump.
That earlier lawsuit continues in the courts, with the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation recently receiving judicial approval to join as an additional plaintiff last week.
Magnum has characterized the ongoing litigation as “regrettable” while maintaining their commitment to supporting the Ben & Jerry’s brand.
