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One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever blocked the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside his partner, announced how he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development escalates the continuing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “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 become an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries that the company's autonomy was undermined after corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions between corporate ownership versus social mission