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One of the co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever prevented the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will personally create the controversial flavor within a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing tension among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its colors, which match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first established in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

The founder indicated how he will create additional ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values