Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner States Unilever Blocked Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Product

One of the co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to independently develop the controversial product as part of an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its coloration, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that originally created several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

The founder stated how he will develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and social mission