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One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will personally create this new flavor as part of a personal series showcasing causes the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that originally created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

The founder indicated that he will develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

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

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Personal product development from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values