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The original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will personally create the controversial flavor within an individual collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the continuing conflict among the world-famous dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor becoming an Emblem of Support

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Plans

The founder revealed that he will develop additional ice cream flavors that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company versus ethical values