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One of the co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business alongside his partner, disclosed how he plans to independently develop the controversial product within a personal collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Parent Company

The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders maintain how Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen indicated how he plans to create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years of involvement, mentioning worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values