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One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how parent company Unilever blocked the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new product within a personal series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism plus Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created in 2016 to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Personal product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values