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One of the original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever blocked the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new flavor within a personal collection highlighting causes the company was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict among the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted how Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen announced via social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that originally created in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to create additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus social mission