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The original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company Unilever stopped the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the business alongside his partner, revealed that he plans to independently develop this new flavor as part of an individual collection highlighting issues the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol for Support

The entrepreneur stated via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement plus Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create other frozen dessert varieties that address issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership versus social mission