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The original creators behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever blocked the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the company alongside his partner, revealed that he will personally create this new product as part of a personal collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement deepens the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Support

Mr. Cohen stated through social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally established several years back for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

The founder indicated that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, following decades of involvement, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus social mission