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The original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection showcasing causes the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest announcement intensifies the continuing tension between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated via an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which mirror the colors in 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 territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which was first established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

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

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and ethical values