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The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever prevented the launch for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create this new flavor within an individual series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development deepens the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, that match those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first created several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years of involvement, citing worries that its independence was compromised following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can fulfill the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values