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One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to personally create this new product as part of an individual collection highlighting causes the company was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders and Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the British consumer goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain that the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians because of its coloration, which match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company recently, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns that its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can actualise the social mission, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission