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The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to personally create this new product within an individual collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the continuing disagreement among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders maintain that Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen stated via social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism plus Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being created through Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which was first created in 2016 to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Intentions

The founder indicated that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which the company was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was 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 fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve the social mission, the values that established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership versus social mission