Anuradha Mittal, who led Ben & Jerry's independent board for seven years, has accused Magnum of threatening her with a public smear campaign. Mittal told the BBC that Magnum warned of "defamatory statements" if she did not step down from the board. The dispute relates to control over the Vermont-based ice cream brand's independence and its social goals. Magnum, which recently took over from Unilever, said Mittal "no longer met the criteria to serve" following an outside investigation. A letter told Mittal she was removed from the board. Magnum also announced a nine-year limit for board members. Alongside Mittal, two other members must leave. An audit found serious problems with the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, including poor financial controls and conflicts of interest. Mittal said to BBC World Business Report, "For several years now, we have been resisting their overreach, including their efforts to muzzle us from speaking out for human rights, for peace." She revealed that in October, executives had threatened her with defamatory accusations in their prospectus if she didn't resign. They then offered a top role in a Unilever-funded nonprofit, which she refused calling it "inappropriate." Ben & Jerry's, famous for social activism and playful flavors, was owned by Unilever since 2000, which let it keep an independent board to protect its social mission. This independence caused frequent clashes. In 2021, the brand stopped selling in Israeli-occupied areas, leading to the sale of its Israeli operations. Founders Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen have criticized the new owners, with Greenfield leaving in September over concerns about stifled social mission. Cohen said Magnum is "not fit" to own the brand. Magnum claims its actions strengthen governance and protect Ben & Jerry's core social mission. A spokesperson said, "We remain unequivocally committed to Ben & Jerry's three-part mission – product, economic and social – and its progressive, non-partisan values." The ice cream maker holds fast to its legacy of bold social stands and quirky flavors, even as it faces leadership turmoil under new ownership.