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One of the original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development deepens the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians due to its coloration, which match those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

The founder stated how he plans to create additional ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence had been undermined after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked how “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company and social mission