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The original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside his partner, disclosed that he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of an individual series showcasing causes the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that was first established in 2016 to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder stated how he plans to create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, following decades with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

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

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission