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The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of an individual collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the continuing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur revealed via social media that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

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

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that mirror those of 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 occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Future Intentions

The founder stated how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues that the company was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values