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One of the original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with his partner, disclosed that he will independently develop the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators versus Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed how he will create other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company recently, following decades with the organization, mentioning worries that its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing tensions between corporate ownership and ethical values