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The original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever blocked the introduction for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the company with his partner, revealed that he will independently develop this new product as part of a personal collection showcasing issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen stated through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which match those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which originally created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen stated how he will develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, after many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence was compromised following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence so that it can achieve the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission