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The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that established the company with his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual collection showcasing causes the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Creators and Parent Company

The recent announcement escalates the continuing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties that address issues which the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

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

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus ethical values