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One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will personally create this new flavor as part of an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

This latest development deepens the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen announced via social media how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

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

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, that match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise 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 dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which originally established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Future Intentions

The founder revealed that he will create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, following decades of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus social mission