The owner of Ben & Jerry’s has accused its former chairman of being ‘abusive, discriminatory and unprofessional’ amid a feud between the companies.

Magnum Ice Cream Company has claimed Anuradha Mittal, one of six members of the Ben & Jerry’s board to step down earlier this year in protest at its owners, breached her fiduciary duties. 

Magnum has denied wrongfully removing board directors from their roles amid a backlash over its ownership of Ben & Jerry’s.

Magnum said Mittal ‘repeatedly used derogatory language that was hostile, aggressive, disrespectful and acrimonious’.

Mittal’s legal counsel said Magnum’s claims were ‘nothing more than extreme personal slander’.