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The original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the continuing tension among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its coloration, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he will create other frozen dessert varieties that address issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence was compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership and social mission