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One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company Unilever stopped the introduction of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who established the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to independently develop the controversial flavor as part of an individual series showcasing issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest development deepens the continuing conflict between the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Support

The entrepreneur stated through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and additional components.

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

The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which match those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which was first created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions

The founder stated how he will develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company recently, following decades with the organization, citing concerns that its independence had been compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented how “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the values which established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company limitations regarding social activism
• Personal product development by company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company and ethical values