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One of the co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to independently develop the controversial product within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

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

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which originally established several years back to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues that the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades with the organization, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus social mission