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One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside his partner, announced that he will independently develop this new flavor as part of a personal series showcasing causes the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest development escalates the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via social media how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally created several years back for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can achieve the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company and social mission