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One of the co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed how parent company Unilever prevented the introduction for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will independently develop this new product as part of a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Parent Company

This latest development escalates the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and social mission