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The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he plans to independently develop this new product as part of an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Founders and Parent Company

This latest development deepens the continuing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced via an Instagram video how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism plus Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

The new dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company which was first created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Future Plans

The founder revealed that he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties that address issues which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

The announcement comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence was undermined after corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations on political advocacy
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing disagreements among parent company and social mission