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One of the original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch of a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to personally create this new product as part of a personal series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the continuing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address issues that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented how “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus ethical values