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One of the co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual collection showcasing issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the ongoing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he plans to create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values