NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) accused its

parent Unilever ( UL ) of demanding its silence toward U.S.

President Donald Trump, as it prepares to spin off the ice cream

brand later this year.

In a Thursday night filing in Manhattan federal court, Ben &

Jerry's ( UL ) said Unilever ( UL ) ice cream chief Peter ter Kulve earlier in

the day unilaterally banned it from "issuing any posts

criticizing President Trump" pending further review.

Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) said ter Kulve cited Unilever's ( UL ) restructuring

in defending his actions, saying it created a "new dynamic" in

an "unprecedented time."

Ter Kulve previously banned a planned post on hot-button

issues when Trump was inaugurated on January 20 because the post

mentioned Trump, Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) has said.

Unilever ( UL ) did not immediately respond on Friday to requests

for comment. Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) did not immediately respond to a

similar request.

Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) accusations came in its lawsuit seeking to

stop Unilever's ( UL ) alleged efforts to dismantle its independent

board and end its social activism.

Many companies have altered social policies, including on

diversity, or appeared to show deference toward Trump since he

began his second White House term.

Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) has had a socially conscious mission since

being founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978.

Unilever ( UL ) bought Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) in 2000. They have battled

publicly since 2021, when Ben & Jerry's ( UL ) halted sales in the

Israeli-occupied West Bank. Its business there was later sold.

The planned spinoff comes as Unilever ( UL ) simplifies its product

portfolio, which has dozens of brands including Dove,

Hellmann's, Knorr, Surf and Vaseline.

Unilever ( UL ) on Thursday chose Amsterdam over London and New

York for the primary listing when it spins off Ben & Jerry's ( UL ),

Breyers, Magnum and other ice cream brands as a standalone

company. Ice cream revenue totaled 8.3 billion euros ($8.72

billion) in 2024.

The case is Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc v Unilever ( UL ) et al,

U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

24-08641.

($1 = 0.9519 euros)