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One of the original creators behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder indicated that he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after decades of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission