Poisoned Apple: Ben and Jerry’s Supports “Marriage Equality”

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is good; their politics—not so much.

The company, founded in 1989, has had a long tradition of engaging in “critical, global economic and social missions.” When it was sold in April 2000 to British-Dutch multinational food giant Unilever, it continued in that tradition. New CEO Jostein Solheim of Norway believes that “values-led businesses” as a force for change, addressing inequities inherent in global business.

Ben & Jerry’s outlets in the United Kingdom, in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of “marriage equality,” have just dished up a new name for their apple pie-flavored ice cream. As the government considers whether to legalize same-sex marriage, Ben & Jerry’s has partnered with Stonewall, a gay rights organization, in support of homosexual marriage. The most recent example of “values-led business” is the newly named “Apple-y Ever After” ice cream.

A companion Facebook app lets gay romance-minded players “marry” someone of the same sex, as a sign of their solidarity with the cause.