McDonald’s Joins Dirty Soda Craze: ‘Mormon Bars’ Go Mainstream with New Menu Items

Breaking: McDonald’s Launches Dirty Sodas Nationwide

McDonald’s will introduce three crafted sodas on May 6, marking the fast‑food giant’s entry into the dirty soda trend — a beverage style rooted in Mormon culture. The new lineup includes Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper, each combining soda with flavored syrups and cold foam.

The move positions McDonald’s alongside a wave of chains capitalizing on the phenomenon, which exploded after Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives featured Utah soda shops. “Utah is, like, land of the Mormon bar, which is all the soda shops that we have,” said cast member Jessi Draper. “There’s one on every corner.”

Background: The Mormon Roots of Dirty Soda

Dirty soda emerged from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, who avoid alcohol, tea, and coffee but still consume caffeine. This created a massive market for soda shops in Utah, where 42% of adults are Mormon. The term “dirty soda” was trademarked by Utah‑based chain Swig in 2014.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in late 2024, shows Mormon influencers ordering customized 44‑ounce sodas loaded with syrups and creams. “We don’t drink alcohol or do drugs, and so it’s kind of our vice,” explained cast member Demi Engemann.

The show ignited a publicity boom for Swig. “The concept of dirty soda is still foreign and intriguing, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives poured gasoline on that,” said Swig CMO Dylan Roeder. “People watch the show and think ‘I need to try this.’”

What This Means: Mainstreaming a Mormon Cultural Staple

McDonald’s adoption of dirty soda signals the trend’s transition from regional curiosity to national menu staple. Social media users quickly noted the Mormon origins. “It’s the American century of Mormonism,” one declared. Another pointed to rising purity culture among Gen Z, calling it “a Mormon decade.”

A third user cited a “Mormon cultural takeover of America,” noting a new soda shop in their hometown had “a line of cars over a mile long.” The inclusion of dirty soda on McDonald’s menu suggests that cultural boundaries around food are blurring, as once‑niche religious practices become commercialized for mass consumption.

For Mormons, the development validates a lifestyle often stereotyped as bland. “Everyone wants a refreshing beverage,” Roeder noted. “It’s not exclusive to anyone.” But the core audience remains those who already embrace the treat — and now they can get it at the golden arches.

Immediate Impact and Next Steps

The new drinks will be available at participating McDonald’s locations starting May 6. No word yet on whether the chain will expand its crafted soda line, but early social media buzz suggests strong interest. Analysts expect the move to boost McDonald’s beverage sales and further cement dirty soda’s place in fast‑food culture.

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