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The co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the company with his partner, announced that he will independently develop this new flavor within a personal collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Creators versus Parent Company

The recent development escalates the continuing tension among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur announced through an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its coloration, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated how he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among parent company versus social mission