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The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create this new product as part of an individual collection highlighting issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen stated through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians because of its coloration, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that “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 inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values