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One of the original creators behind the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the introduction for a new pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside his partner, announced that he will independently develop this new flavor within an individual series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement intensifies the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

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

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen revealed through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions

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

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following decades with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence was compromised following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

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

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions among parent company versus ethical values