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The original creators behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he plans to independently develop this new product within a personal collection highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest announcement deepens the ongoing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet as a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen announced through an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions

The founder revealed that he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence had been compromised after corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that it can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership versus ethical values