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One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of a personal series highlighting causes the company was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support

The entrepreneur stated through social media how he is creating a new watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company in September, following many years of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill the social mission, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Independent product development from original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company and ethical values