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One of the co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company Unilever blocked the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to personally create this new flavor as part of an individual collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the continuing disagreement among the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media that he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first established several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Future Plans

The founder stated how he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

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

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values