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One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the business with his partner, revealed that he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual series showcasing issues the company was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development deepens the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated via social media that he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas 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 ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that was first established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values