Ben & Jerry's New Flavour Leaves Bad Taste

Ben & Jerry's, the socially aware ice-cream maker, has apologised to Irish consumers for launching a new flavour evoking the worst days of British military oppression.

Tubs of Black and Tan ice-cream have gone on sale this month and prompted complaints that the phrase is not just the name for mixing stout with pale ale.

Black and Tans, irate customers explained, was the term for an irregular force of British ex-servicemen recruited during the Irish war of independence and renowned for their brutality, including the 1920 massacre of 12 people at a Dublin football match. The new flavour is only available in the US at present.

A rival manufacturer observed on the Ice Cream Ireland blog spot that Ben & Jerry's had a social conscience but "a Black and Tan flavour?... first of all, for some of their Irish-American customers Black and Tan won't immediately bring to mind the drink but unsavoury historical references. Secondly, their website states this flavour is for 'beer enthusiasts' but there is no beer listed in the ingredients."

The Vermont firm, famous for donating part of its profits to charity, was taken over by Unilever six years ago and has been criticised for changing its commercial focus.

Lee Holden, a US spokesman for Ben & Jerry's, yesterday told The Guardian: "We have had a small amount of contacts from people letting us know how Black and Tan originated. We were not aware of that.

"It was named because it's a very popular drink in the US ... flavours are always released in the United States before being [promoted] for international use. That's now being discussed."