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The original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever blocked the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop the controversial product within an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators versus Parent Company

The recent development intensifies the ongoing tension between the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced through social media how he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for support for Palestinians because of its coloration, that match those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that originally created several years back to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns that the company was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy was compromised after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner 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 its independence so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements between corporate ownership and ethical values