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One of the co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business with his partner, revealed that he plans to independently develop the controversial product as part of a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

The new product line will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first established in 2016 to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and ethical values