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One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated how parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, that co-founded the business alongside his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new product within a personal series highlighting causes the company was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators and Parent Company

This latest announcement escalates the ongoing tension among the world-famous dessert company and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated via an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “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.”

The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company that was first established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated how he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, after decades with the organization, citing concerns that the company's autonomy was compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can achieve the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among parent company versus social mission