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One of the original creators of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will independently develop the controversial flavor within a personal series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders maintain how the parent company along with their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur revealed via an Instagram video that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will create other ice cream flavors that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, after many years of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding social activism
• Personal product development from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and social mission