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One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he will independently develop this new product within an individual collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions for naming options plus potential ingredients.

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

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its coloration, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first established in 2016 for endorsing former political contender Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, after many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values