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The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company with his partner, disclosed that he will independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual series highlighting causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict between the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur stated via an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated how he plans to create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing concerns regarding how its independence had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus ethical values