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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 prevented the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that established the business alongside his partner, disclosed how he will personally create this new flavor within an individual collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated through social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

The new product line will be created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following many years with the organization, citing concerns that its independence was compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked how “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus social mission