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The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside his partner, announced how he will personally create this new product as part of an individual collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent development intensifies the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed via an Instagram video that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians due to its coloration, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first created in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how its independence was undermined following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated how “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values