🔗 Share this article Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Alleges Unilever Halted Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Flavor Activist Entrepreneurs promoting political issues via frozen treats One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product. Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal collection highlighting issues the company has been prevented from addressing publicly. Longstanding Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company The recent development intensifies the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000. The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "honouring its social mission". The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol of Solidarity Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name plus additional components. “I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.” The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of support for Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern. Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank. This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally established several years back to support former political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return". Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions The founder stated that he will create other frozen dessert varieties that address issues that the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever. This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns that the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism. At that time, Ben Cohen remarked how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him." "My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists. Parent company restrictions on political advocacy Independent product development from original creators Watermelon flavor as social statement Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership versus ethical values