Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder States Unilever Blocked Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor

One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will independently develop this new flavor within an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

This latest announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, that closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that originally created in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder stated how he plans to create additional ice cream flavors that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades with the organization, citing concerns that its independence had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented 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 fight for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership and social mission