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One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to personally create this new flavor as part of an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders maintain that Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its coloration, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following many years of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus social mission