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One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will personally create the controversial product as part of an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the continuing disagreement among the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

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

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via social media that he is creating a new watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, that mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally established several years back to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades of involvement, citing concerns that its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among parent company and ethical values