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The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will independently develop this new flavor within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally created several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

The founder stated that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values