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One of the original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever prevented the introduction of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to personally create this new product as part of an individual series showcasing issues the company was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Parent Company

The recent development deepens the ongoing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated via social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, which match those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company which originally created in 2016 for endorsing ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated how he will develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company recently, after many years with the organization, citing concerns regarding how its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
• Independent product development from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission