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The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual series showcasing issues the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the continuing tension among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Future Plans

The founder revealed that he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries that the company's autonomy was undermined following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for its independence so that it can fulfill the social mission, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission