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The original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company with his partner, announced that he will personally create this new product as part of a personal series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development deepens the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first established several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

The founder indicated that he plans to create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence so that it can fulfill the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values