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One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever blocked the introduction of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create the controversial flavor within a personal collection showcasing issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest development deepens the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions for naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to create additional ice cream flavors that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus social mission