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One of the co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with his partner, revealed that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of an individual series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders maintain how the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades with the organization, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission