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The co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create the controversial flavor within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the ongoing disagreement between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, that mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement plus Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which was first created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after many years with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values