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The co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the ongoing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, which match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

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

The new product line will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first established several years back for endorsing former political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values