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One of the co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company alongside his partner, revealed how he will independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Corporate Owner

The recent development escalates the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Support

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first created several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed how he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues which the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after decades of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission