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One of the co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with his partner, revealed that he will independently develop the controversial product within an individual collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the continuing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

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

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians due to its coloration, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Plans

The founder revealed that he will create additional ice cream flavors that address concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values