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One of the co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will independently develop this new flavor within an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its coloration, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally created several years back to support former political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

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

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values