BURLINGTON, Vt., May 30, 2019 // PRNewswire // - As a company long known for flavors like Half Baked & Magic Brownies, it's no surprise that Ben & Jerry's has an affinity for the newest trend in food, cannabidiol or CBD. Given Ben & Jerry's history and on-going goal to bring fans the best ice cream possible, the company has announced its commitment to including CBD in its ice cream innovations.
Ben & Jerry's intends to make its CBD-infused ice cream available once CBD is legalized at the federal level. Currently the FDA prohibits adding CBD to food and beverages. The FDA has set a public hearing on the legalization of CBD in food and beverages on May 31st and Ben & Jerry's has submitted comment on the issue.
A National Restaurant Association survey found that three in four chefs named CBD – and cannabis-infused food-- as a hot trend in 2019. "We're doing this for our fans," said CEO Matthew McCarthy. "We've listened and brought them everything from Non-Dairy indulgences to on-the-go portions with our Pint Slices. We aspire to love our fans more than they love us and we want to give them what they're looking for in a fun, Ben & Jerry's way."
Ben & Jerry's is looking into sustainably-sourced CBD from Vermont. Values-led sourcing is an important part of Ben & Jerry's product development. By using high-quality, sustainably-sourced ingredients, the company helps to support a Linked Prosperity model within Ben & Jerry's supply chain, making sure Ben & Jerry's is positively impacting every community in which it is a part of. The company currently sources its brownies from Greyston Bakery, which implements an open-door hiring policy; and its cookie dough from Rhino Foods, which hires refugees and sources its dairy from the St. Albans Co-op.
Ben & Jerry's encourages its fans to visit benjerry.com to sign up for updated info on Ben & Jerry's commitment and progress toward using CBD. Fans can also contact the FDA during their open comment window regarding CBD use in food now through July 2nd, 2019.
As an aspiring social justice company, Ben & Jerry's believes in a greater calling than simply making a profit for selling its goods. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients. Ben & Jerry's incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices in a number of ways including a focus on values-led sourcing. In 2015 the company completed its transition to using entirely non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) ingredients by source as well as to fully source Fairtrade-certified ingredients wherever possible, which benefits farmers in developing countries. Ben and Jerry's products are distributed in 35 countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry's, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Ben & Jerry's became a certified B Corp (Benefit Corporation) in 2012. The Ben & Jerry's Foundation's employee-led grant programs totaled $2.7MM in 2018 to support grassroots organizing for social and environmental justice around the country.
SOURCE Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients.