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The co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business with his partner, disclosed that he plans to personally create this new flavor within an individual collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement escalates the continuing disagreement among the world-famous ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that originally created several years back for endorsing former political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

The founder stated how he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus social mission