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The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company with his partner, disclosed that he plans to independently develop the controversial product within a personal collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing conflict among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders maintain that Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support former political contender Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, mentioning concerns that its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company versus ethical values