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One of the original creators behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch for a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to personally create this new product as part of an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators and Corporate Owner

The recent announcement escalates the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet as a Symbol for Solidarity

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

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created several years back for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company in September, after many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy was undermined following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission