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One of the original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever stopped the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with his partner, announced how he plans to independently develop this new flavor as part of an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the continuing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol for Support

The entrepreneur revealed through social media how he is creating a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of support for Palestinians because of its colors, which mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that originally created several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Independent flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus ethical values