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 that language has since been adopted by many other brands. 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.”
