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One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who established the company with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will independently develop this new flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders maintain how the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for support for Palestinians due to its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that originally created several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing concerns that its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus social mission