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The co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with his partner, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of a personal series highlighting issues the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen stated via social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated how he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following decades of involvement, citing concerns regarding how its independence was compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values