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The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company Unilever blocked the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop the controversial product as part of a personal series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement intensifies the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the British consumer goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

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

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

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

Previous Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 to support former political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Intentions

The founder stated how he will develop other ice cream flavors that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing concerns that its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between parent company and social mission