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The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the company with his partner, announced how he will independently develop this new flavor as part of an individual series highlighting issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder stated from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Intentions

The founder indicated how he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following decades of involvement, citing concerns regarding how its independence had been compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among parent company versus social mission