The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Blocked Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Flavor

One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will independently develop the controversial product as part of a personal collection highlighting issues the company was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent development escalates the continuing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that originally established in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

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

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and ethical values