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One of the co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the company with his partner, revealed that he will independently develop this new flavor as part of an individual series showcasing issues the company was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company

This latest development deepens the ongoing tension between the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally established in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed that he will develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how its independence was undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission