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One of the original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever stopped the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company with his partner, announced that he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within a personal series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen stated through social media how he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for Palestinians due to its colors, that mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which was first created several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Intentions

The founder revealed that he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years with the organization, citing concerns that its independence had been undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values