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One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside his partner, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest development deepens the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed via an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that originally established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Future Intentions

The founder revealed how he will develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence had been undermined after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus social mission