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The co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual series showcasing issues the company was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Support

The entrepreneur revealed via an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally established in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Future Intentions

The founder revealed how he will create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, after many years of involvement, citing concerns that its independence was undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal product development from original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between parent company and ethical values