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The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with his partner, disclosed that he will independently develop the controversial product within an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

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

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its colors, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which was first created several years back for endorsing former political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder stated how he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values