In a lawsuit, the ice cream company accuses parent company of interfering with its social activism. The consumer giant calls the accusations “meritless.”

Unilever is threatening to halt funding to the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit that makes donations to social justice organizations, sources familiar with the matter said.

Unilever has threatened to pull funding for the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation – escalating its battle to muzzle the left-leaning ice cream brand’s progressive activism, according to a report. The company has demanded Ben & Jerry’s Foundation submit to an expedited audit of its donations to continue receiving funding,