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One of the co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever stopped the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business with his partner, announced how he plans to personally create the controversial product within an individual series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed via social media how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

The founder stated how he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company in September, after many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Personal product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus social mission