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The co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of an individual collection showcasing causes the company was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that was first created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed that he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values