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The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to personally create this new flavor within a personal collection highlighting issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the continuing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

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

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill the social mission, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements between parent company and social mission