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One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will personally create this new product within an individual series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that match those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence 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.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values