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One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company with his partner, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual collection highlighting causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing disagreement among the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict its social activism.

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

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can achieve the social mission, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Independent product development from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company versus ethical values