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One of the co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor within an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders maintain how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians because of its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

The new product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first established several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Plans

The founder revealed that he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy was undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company and social mission