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The original creators behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch of a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside his partner, announced that he will independently develop this new product as part of an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through social media how he is creating a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians because of its coloration, which match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that was first created several years back for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission