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One of the co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to independently develop this new flavor within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted how Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated via an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, that match those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which originally created several years back for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

The founder stated that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, following decades with the organization, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that it can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership versus social mission