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One of the co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the business with his partner, revealed how he plans to personally create this new product within a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest development escalates the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that originally established in 2016 to support former political contender Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated how he will develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values