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One of the co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will independently develop this new flavor as part of a personal series highlighting issues the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest development escalates the continuing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through social media how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, that mirror those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

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

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

The founder indicated that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements between parent company versus ethical values