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The co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of a personal collection highlighting causes the company was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement deepens the continuing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods corporation which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through social media how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of support for Palestinians because of its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which was first established in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on issues which the company was silenced from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, following decades with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen stated that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing disagreements between parent company versus ethical values