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One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he will independently develop the controversial flavor as part of a personal series highlighting issues the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented 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 occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that match the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can achieve the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values