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The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, announced that he plans to independently develop this new flavor within an individual series showcasing causes the company was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions for naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which match those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally established several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Future Intentions

The founder indicated that he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and social mission