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The co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever prevented the introduction of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with his partner, disclosed how he plans to personally create this new flavor within a personal series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed via social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated how he will create additional ice cream flavors that address concerns that the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence was undermined following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

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

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence so that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values