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The co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever stopped the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will independently develop the controversial flavor as part of a personal series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur announced through an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Intentions

The founder stated that he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, after many years with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve the social mission, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.

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