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One of the co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the business alongside his partner, disclosed that he will independently develop this new product as part of an individual series highlighting causes the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Founders and Parent Company

This latest development escalates the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders maintain that the parent company along with their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which match the colors in the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

The founder revealed how he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing concerns that its independence was compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working 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.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus ethical values