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One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, revealed how he will independently develop this new product as part of a personal series showcasing issues the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated 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 of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

The founder revealed how he will develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following decades with the organization, mentioning concerns that its independence was compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can fulfill the social mission, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values