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One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new product within a personal series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the continuing disagreement among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed that Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet as an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

The founder stated how he plans to develop other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Independent product development by original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership versus ethical values