McDonald’s’ newest menu drop is making a Mormon deal with mainstream.
On Tuesday, April 28, McDonald’s formally introduced six new drinks coming to its menu on Could 6. That features three “crafted sodas”—Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Soiled Dr Pepper—which mix sodas with flavored syrups and chilly foam.
The drinks make McDonald’s the newest franchise to embrace the idea of “soiled soda,” or soda with mixed-in flavors and lotions. However soiled soda is greater than only a viral meals development: It’s a cultural mainstay of Mormon communities, which have embraced the idea because it first rose to prominence in Utah, the place 42% of the adult population identifies as Mormon.
What makes soiled soda Mormon?
Soiled soda isn’t unique to Mormons, however they actually put it on the map. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aren’t allowed to drink alcohol, tea, or espresso—however caffeine continues to be on the desk, giving soda an enormous Mormon market.
The time period “soiled soda” was trademarked by the Utah-based soda store franchise Swig in 2014, however many different manufacturers have since adopted that language. The deal with has had waves of mainstream recognition over time, however its present diploma of recognition will be traced again to a different juggernaut of Mormonism in popular culture: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Hulu’s actuality present, which follows a bunch of Mormon influencers referred to as MomTok, premiered in late 2024. The collection’ first episode sees the titular Mormon mothers patronizing a Swig location and ordering custom-made 44-ounce sodas loaded with flavored syrups and lotions.
“Utah is, like, land of the Mormon bar, which is all of the soda retailers that we’ve got,” mentioned solid member Jessi Draper. “There’s one on each nook.”
“We don’t drink alcohol or do medication, and so it’s form of our vice,” added fellow MomTok member Demi Engemann.
After The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered, Swig skilled an enormous increase in publicity. The model’s CMO Dylan Roeder defined the soiled soda craze to PRWeek on the time, noting that “it’s not unique to anybody.”
“Everybody desires a refreshing beverage,” Roeder mentioned. “The idea of soiled soda continues to be international and intriguing, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives poured gasoline on that. Folks watch the present and suppose ‘I want to do this.’”
“The American Century of Mormonism”
When information of the brand new McDonald’s drinks hit social media, the web was fast to level out soiled soda’s Mormon origins. “It’s the American century of Mormonism,” one user declared after seeing McDonald’s new drinks.
One other person identified rising purity culture among Gen Z and the recognition of tradwife content material. “Guess it’s a Mormon decade,” they wrote. A third user cited a “Mormon cultural takeover of America,” noting {that a} new soda store of their hometown had “a line of vehicles over a mile lengthy” for weeks after opening.
Some customers identified that McDonald’s is way from the one model hopping on the soiled soda development. Dunkin’ additionally just announced its take on dirty soda, whereas fast-food chains together with Taco Bell and Sonic have completely added variations of the drink to their menus, too. Even movie show chain AMC presents soiled sodas at choose places under its Cold-Crafted Drinks menu.
“What occurred within the soda business that soiled soda is now a sizzling commodity?” wondered one social media user. “It is a new growth.”
In the meantime, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ different most important export—its solid of controversial characters—can also be dominating popular culture. MomTok ringleader Taylor Frankie Paul was set to star on ABC’s The Bachelorette earlier than the network canceled the already-filmed 22nd season due to a scandal in Paul’s past. Breakout star Whitney Leavitt grew to become a fan favourite on Dancing With the Stars in 2025, earlier than heading to Broadway for a restricted run in Chicago.
