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One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with his partner, disclosed how he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of an individual series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the continuing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which was first created several years back for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Plans

The founder stated that he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and ethical values