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One of the original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever prevented the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

The recent development deepens the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its coloration, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Future Plans

The founder indicated how he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
• Personal flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values