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The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new flavor as part of an individual collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the continuing disagreement among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that was first established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

The founder stated that he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, citing concerns that its independence was compromised following corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

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

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership versus ethical values