Mormon culture hits fast food: McDonald’s puts dirty soda on menu after ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ takes trend viral

McDonald’s’ latest menu drop is making a Mormon treat mainstream.

On Tuesday, April 28, McDonald’s officially announced six new beverages coming to its menu on May 6. That includes three “crafted sodas”—Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper—which combine sodas with flavored syrups and cold foam. 

The drinks make McDonald’s the latest franchise to embrace the concept of “dirty soda,” or soda with mixed-in flavors and creams. But dirty soda is more than just a viral food trend: It’s a cultural mainstay of Mormon communities, which have embraced the concept since it first rose to prominence in Utah, where 42% of the adult population identifies as Mormon.

What makes dirty soda Mormon?

Dirty soda isn’t exclusive to Mormons, but they certainly put it on the map. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aren’t allowed to drink alcohol, tea, or coffee—but caffeine is still on the table, giving soda a massive Mormon market.

The term “dirty soda” was trademarked by Utah-based soda shop franchise Swig in 2014, but many other brands have since adopted that language. The treat has had waves of mainstream recognition over the years, but its current degree of popularity can be traced back to another juggernaut of Mormonism in pop culture: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Hulu’s reality show, which follows a group of Mormon influencers called MomTok, premiered in late 2024. The series’ first episode sees the titular Mormon moms patronizing a Swig location and ordering customized 44 oz. sodas, loaded with flavored syrups and creams.

“Utah is like land of the Mormon bar, which is all the soda shops that we have,” says cast member Jessi Draper. “There’s one on every corner.”

“We don’t drink alcohol or do drugs, and so it’s kind of our vice,” adds fellow MomTok member Demi Engemann.

After The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered, Swig experienced a massive boom in publicity. The brand’s CMO Dylan Roeder explained the dirty soda craze to PRWeek at the time, noting that “it’s not exclusive to anyone.”

“Everyone wants a refreshing beverage,” Roeder said. “The concept of dirty soda is still foreign and intriguing, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives poured gasoline on that. People watch the show and think ‘I need to try this.’”

‘The American Century of Mormonism’

When news of the new McDonald’s beverages hit social media, the internet was quick to point out dirty soda’s Mormon origins. “It’s the American century of Mormonism,” one user declared after seeing McDonald’s’ new drinks.

Another user pointed out rising purity culture among Gen Z and the popularity of tradwife content. “Guess it’s a Mormon decade,” they wrote. A third user cited a “Mormon cultural takeover of America,” noting that a new soda shop in their hometown had “a line of cars over a mile long” for weeks after opening.

Some users pointed out that McDonald’s is far from the only brand hopping on the dirty soda trend. Dunkin’ Donuts also just announced its take on dirty soda, while fast food chains including Taco Bell and Sonic have also permanently added versions of the drink to their menus. Even movie theater chain AMC offers dirty sodas at select locations under its Cold-Crafted Drinks menu.

“What happened in the soda industry that dirty soda is now a hot commodity,” wondered one social media user. “This is a new development.”

Meanwhile, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ other main export—its cast of controversial characters—is also dominating pop culture. MomTok ringleader Taylor Frankie Paul was set to be ABC’s next Bachelorette, before the network cancelled the already-filmed season due to a scandal in Paul’s past. Breakout star Whitney Leavitt became a fan favorite on Dancing With the Stars in 2025, before heading to Broadway for a limited run in Chicago.

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