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The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how parent company Unilever blocked the launch for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company alongside his partner, disclosed how he plans to independently develop this new flavor within a personal collection highlighting causes the company was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

The recent development deepens the ongoing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Intentions

The founder stated that he plans to create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues that the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership versus social mission