In a surprising twist of fate, the saccharine, citrusy world of Diet Mountain Dew has found itself at the center of the American political stage. Both JD Vance, Republican running mate, and Tim Walz, Democratic running mate, have publicly professed their love for the neon-green soda, sparking a debate about its cultural significance and whether it can bridge the partisan divide.
A Shared Love for a Ubiquitous Beverage
The 2024 election cycle has revealed an unexpected commonality between political figures on opposite sides of the spectrum: an affinity for Diet Mountain Dew. Despite their differing views on significant issues, both Vance and Walz have embraced the beverage, highlighting its prevalence in American culture.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: As they battle it out on the campaign trail, vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz have opposing views on some of the big issues facing the country, but there is one thing they agree on.ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: It's Mountain Dew or, to be more specific, Diet Mountain Dew. Both candidates say they love the citrusy, neon green, caffeinated soda.
Diet Mountain Dew: From Appalachian Roots to the National Stage
The origins of Mountain Dew trace back to Tennessee in the 1930s, where it was initially created as a mixer for whiskey. Its name, "Mountain Dew," was a nod to the Appalachian slang for moonshine. Over time, the soda was heavily marketed in rural and working-class communities throughout Appalachia and the American South.
Originally created in Tennessee as a whiskey mixer (its name a wink to the term for homemade moonshine) the soda was heavily marketed for decades in rural and working-class communities throughout Appalachia and the American South at large.
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PepsiCo acquired Mountain Dew in 1964, and while the brand has evolved, it has retained a connection to its roots. The drink remains popular in a "Mountain Dew Belt" that stretches from Alabama to West Virginia.
Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of Mountain Dew owner PepsiCo, told BuzzFeed News in 2015 that Mountain Dew is "an attitude. It's a fantastic attitude in a bottle."
Vance's Embrace of Diet Mountain Dew: A Political Strategy?
Vance's public association with Diet Mountain Dew appears to be a deliberate attempt to connect with voters who identify with working-class America. During a campaign rally, he joked that Democrats would likely label his enjoyment of the soda as racist.
“Democrats say that it is racist to believe … well, they say it’s racist to do anything,” J. D. Vance proclaimed during a campaign rally this week, after bringing up the need for voter-ID requirements. “I had a Diet Mountain Dew yesterday and one today, and I’m sure they’re going to call that racist too,” he said, adding, “But-it’s good.”
By invoking Mountain Dew, Vance taps into a symbol of Appalachia, a region often associated with white poverty, despair, and addiction. His strategy seems to be to turn the perceived shame of drinking Mountain Dew into a source of class and race resentment, suggesting that anything associated with this demographic will be unfairly criticized.
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When Vance does the Dew, he explicitly calls it out. When he said that Democrats would find a way to call his drink racist, he was hoping potential voters would hear a message that he’s one of them, just cracking open a Diet Dew and going about his business, unfairly maligned by liberals who just don’t get it.
Walz's Affection for Diet Mountain Dew: A Personal Habit?
In contrast to Vance, Walz's affinity for Diet Mountain Dew appears to be more of a personal habit. He has been known to consume the beverage regularly and has even joked about his love for it on social media.
Walz doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee. He does the Diet Dew, proudly and often. While recording an episode of Pod Save America last month, not one, but two bottles of the stuff sat on Walz’s desk, ready for the sipping.
Walz's fondness for Diet Mountain Dew has been embraced by his supporters, who see it as a relatable and authentic trait. His embrace of the drink has also been viewed as a way of "taking back" the soda, reclaiming it from any perceived associations with a particular political ideology.
Nutritional Concerns and Controversial Ingredients
Despite its popularity, Diet Mountain Dew, like many diet sodas, contains artificial sweeteners and other controversial ingredients that have raised health concerns.
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The FDA considers all three of the sweeteners to be “generally recognized as safe,” but manufacturers don’t need to present significant, peer-reviewed research in order to get a food additive into that category, Dr.
Some studies have linked artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose to potential health risks. A 2023 observational study found an association between aspartame and stroke, and between acesulfame potassium and sucralose with higher coronary artery disease risk.
“There was a recent study on links to cardiovascular disease that included these three sweeteners,” Stoiber says, pointing to the 2023 observational study which found an association between aspartame and stroke, and between acesulfame potassium and sucralose with higher coronary artery disease risk.
Other ingredients, such as artificial colors like yellow 5 (tatrazine), have been flagged for potential behavioral changes in children. Preservatives like calcium disodium EDTA and sodium benzoate have also been linked to digestive issues and other health concerns in some studies.
The artificial color of yellow 5, otherwise known as tatrazine, meanwhile, has been flagged, she says, “especially for young children,” because of “numerous epidemiological studies” showing an association with behavioral changes including irritability, restlessness, depression and difficulty with sleeping.
The Debate Over Diet Soda: Healthier Alternative or a Poor Choice?
The healthfulness of diet soda, in general, has been a topic of debate. While it may seem like a better alternative to sugary sodas, some experts argue that it can still contribute to unhealthy habits and may not be the best choice for overall health.
It’s why drinking sodas either with sugar or artificial sweeteners is “a poor role model for the young whose habits are forming,” according to Alice H. Lichtenstein, professor of nutrition science and senior scientist at the Tufts University Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. “It is better to never start drinking sweetened beverages than to have to shift away from them.”