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One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with his partner, announced that he will personally create this new flavor as part of a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest development deepens the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen stated via social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that was first created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how its independence was undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company and social mission