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The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed that parent company Unilever blocked the launch of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that originally created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed that he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and ethical values