Is Mountain Dew Vegan? (Find Out Now!)

Is Mountain Dew Vegan

Many people associate the word “vegan” with healthy, plant-based foods. While many vegans are health-conscious, that doesn’t mean that some vegans don’t drink soda from time to time. Soda definitely isn’t a healthy drink due to its high sugar content and list of non-natural ingredients. With all of the flavor variations Mountain Dew has come out with over the years, how do you know which ones are vegan-friendly?

Original Mountain Dew and other Mountain Dew varieties are considered vegan because they do not contain any animal byproducts. However, these beverage contain questionable ingredients for vegans such as food dyes, glycerol ester of rosin, and taurine. The best vegan and healthier alternatives to Mountain Dew are OLIPOP Vintage Cola Sparkling Tonic and Mountain Zevia.

All of these different types and flavors of Mountain Dew means several ingredients to decipher. Let’s break down all of the types of Mountain Dew, as well as look at some ingredients that might be contested among strict vegans (but are widely accepted as being vegan by most).

Contents

Questionable ingredients for strict vegans

Food dyes (artificial coloring)

There are several colors of Mountain Dew, which means the use of artificial colors. While natural food colorings are typically vegan, the artificial coloring used in Mountain Dew might be an issue for some stricter vegans because they are tested on animals.

One of the most well-known non-vegan food colorings is Carmine, a type of food coloring made from beetles. However, the red dyes used in Mountain Dew aren’t from natural red 4, so they are considered vegan.

Glycerol ester of rosin

Glycerol ester of wood rosin is used to help keep oils evenly suspended in liquids. It’s made from trees and then combined with glycerin. Glycerin is usually made from vegetable oil but has also be made from animal fat. It’s not common to use animal fat-based glycerin anymore, but some vegans might choose to stay away from glycerin out of an abundance of caution.

Taurine

Mountain Dew’s energy drinks contain taurine, an ingredient that can be sourced from animals. Most taurine used today is vegan-friendly. However, since Mountain Dew is not certified vegan, some vegans may choose to avoid all products with taurine in case they happen to be animal-based.

Nutritional Information for Mountain Dew

Original Mountain Dew

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Concentrated Orange Juice
Citric Acid
Natural Flavor
Sodium Benzoate
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Gum Arabic
Erythorbic Acid
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Yellow 5

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 290
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 77 g
Total sugar: 77 g
Added sugar: 77 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 91 mg

Diet Mountain Dew

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
Concentrated Orange Juice
Citric Acid
Natural Flavor
Potassium Benzoate
Citrus Pectin
Aspartame
Potassium Citrate
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Gum Arabic
Sodium Benzoate
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Yellow 5

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 10
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: <1 g
Total sugar: <1 g
Added sugar: <1 g
Protein: 0g
Caffeine: 91 mg

Mountain Dew Zero Sugar

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
Citric Acid
Natural Flavor
Potassium Benzoate
Citrus Pectin
Aspartame
Potassium Citrate
Caffeine
Gum Arabic
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Sodium Citrate
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Yellow 5

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 0
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 0 g
Total sugar: 0 g
Added sugars: 0 g
Caffeine: 113 mg

Mountain Dew Major Melon

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Citric Acid
Natural Flavor
Gum Arabic
Sodium Benzoate
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Red 40

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 270
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 73 g
Total sugar: 73 g
Added sugar: 73 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 91 mg

Mountain Dew Major Melon Zero Sugar

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
Citric Acid
Natural Flavor
Aspartame
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Citrate
Caffeine
Gum Arabic
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Red 40

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 0
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 0 g
Total sugar: 0 g
Added sugar: 0 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 113 mg

Mountain Dew Code Red

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Concentrated Orange Juice
Citric Acid
Sodium Polyphosphates
Sodium Benzoate
Natural Flavor
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Gum Arabic
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Red 40
Yellow 5
Blue 1

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 280
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 76 g
Total sugar: 76 g
Added sugar: 76 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 91 mg

Mountain Dew Live Wire

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Concentrated Orange Juice
Natural And Artificial Flavor
Citric Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Gum Arabic
Yellow 6
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Yellow 5
Red 40

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 290
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 77 g
Total sugar: 77 g
Added sugar: 77 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 91 mg

Mountain Dew Voltage

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Natural Flavor
Citric Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Gum Arabic
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Blue 1
Red 40

Nutrition information (per 20 oz. bottle):

Calories: 290
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 76 g
Total sugar: 76 g
Added sugar: 76 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 91 mg

Mountain Dew Kickstart – Orange Citrus

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
White Grape Juice Concentrate
Concentrated Orange Juice
Citric Acid
Sodium Polyphosphates
Natural Flavor
Gum Arabic
Potassium Sorbate
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Sucralose
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
Sodium Benzoate
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
Yellow 5
Yellow 6
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 21 g
Total sugar: 20 g
Added sugar: 17 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 92 mg

Mountain Dew Kickstart – Black Cherry

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
White Grape Juice Concentrate
Citric Acid
Caramel Color
Natural Flavor
Sodium Polyphosphates
Potassium Sorbate
Gum Arabic
Caffeine
Potassium Citrate
Potassium Chloride
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Red 40
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Salt
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 20 g
Total sugar: 19 g
Added sugar: 15 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 92 mg

Mountain Dew Kickstart – Grape

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
White Grape Juice Concentrate
Citric Acid
Sodium Polyphosphates
Natural Flavor
Potassium Sorbate
Caffeine
Potassium Citrate
Potassium Chloride
Gum Arabic
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Red 40
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Salt
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Blue 1

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 21 g
Total sugar: 20 g
Added sugar: 16 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 90 mg

Mountain Dew Kickstart – Fruit Punch

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
White Grape Juice Concentrate
Citric Acid
Natural And Artificial Flavor
Sodium Polyphosphates
Potassium Sorbate
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Gum Arabic
Caffeine
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Red 40
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
Yellow 5
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 20 g
Total sugar: 19 g
Added sugar: 16 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 92 mg

Mountain Dew Kickstart – Pineapple Orange Mango

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
White Grape Juice Concentrate
Coconut Water Concentrate
Citric Acid
Sodium Polyphosphates
Natural Flavor
Potassium Sorbate
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Gum Arabic
Caffeine
Acesulfame Potassium
Sucralose
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Yellow 6
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 20 g
Total sugar: 19 g
Added sugar: 14 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 90 mg

Mountain Dew Amp – Cherry Blast

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Citric Acid
Natural Flavor
Taurine
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium Polyphosphates
Citrus Pectin
Caffeine
Guarana Seed Extract
Gum Arabic
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Sucralose
Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Yerba Mate Extract
Red 40
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 120
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 31 g
Total sugar: 31 g
Added sugar: 31 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 160 mg

Mountain Dew Amp – Original

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Citric Acid
Concentrated Orange Juice
Natural Flavor
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium Polyphosphates
Caffeine
Guarana Seed Extract
Gum Arabic
Niacinamide
Ascorbic Acid
Taurinecalcium Disodium EDTA
Riboflavin
Calcium Pantothenate
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Yellow 5
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
Natural Apple Extract (Color)
Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Blue 1

Nutrition information (per 16 oz. can):

Calories: 220
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrates: 58 g
Total sugar: 58 g
Added sugar: 58 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 142 mg

Healthier Alternatives to Mountain Dew

OLIPOP Vintage Cola Sparkling Tonic

Olipop Soda is vegan, gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, and low in added sugar. It contains prebiotics in the form of plant-based fiber, as well as other plant-based botanicals.

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
OLISMART (Cassava Root Fiber, Chicory Root Inulin, Jerusalem Artichoke Inulin, Nopal Cactus*, Calendula Flower*, Kudzu Root*, Marshmallow Root*, Slippery Elm Bark*)
Cassava Root Syrup
Apple Juice Concentrate
Lime Juice
Organic Natural Cola Flavor
Alpha Galangal Root*
Stevia Leaf*
Himalayan Pink Salt
Green Tea Caffeine*
Natural Vanilla Flavor*
Natural Caramel Flavor*
Cinnamon*
*Extract

Nutrition facts (per 355 ml can):

Calories: 35
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrate: 16 g
Dietary fiber: 9 g
Total sugars: 2 g
Added sugars: 2 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 50 mg

Mountain Zevia

This is a natural soda sweetened with Stevia instead of added sugars. This particular flavor is meant to mimic Mountain Dew’s lemon-lime flavor.

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
Stevia Leaf Extract
Natural Flavors
Caffeine
Citric Acid

Nutrition facts (per 12 oz. can):

Calories: 0
Total Fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrate: 0 g
Total sugars: 0 g
Added sugars: 0 g
Protein: 0 g
Caffeine: 55 mg

Aura Bora Herbal Sparkling Water – Basil Berry

Aura Bora sparkling water has several different unique flavors that don’t contain any sugar. They’re vegan and Whole30-approved.

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water
Natural Strawberry Flavor
Basil Leaf Extract
Lemongrass Leaf Extract

Nutrition facts (per 12 oz. can):

Calories: 0
Total fat: 0 g
Total carbohydrate: 0 g
Total sugars: 0 g
Added sugars: 0 g
Protein: 0 g

Final Thoughts

Mountain Dew is considered vegan by most standards. However, strict vegans who prefer to avoid potential non-vegan ingredients might choose to avoid it because of the use of artificial colors, glycerol ester of resin, and taurine.

Related Questions

Is Mountain Dew bad for you?

Most Mountain Dew drinks are high in sugar and full of artificial ingredients and preservatives. Mountain Dew isn’t considered healthy and should be limited or avoided.

Is Mountain Dew Kickstart an energy drink?

Mountain Dew Kickstart is considered a sparkling juice drink. It contains 90 milligrams of caffeine per can along with fruit juice. Mountain Dew AMP is an energy drink with caffeine, taurine, and guarana and contains 142 milligrams of caffeine per can in the original flavor.

Related Guides

Diana Gariglio-Clelland

Diana Gariglio-Clelland is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She obtained her Bachelor's in Nutrition from the University of Idaho in 2012 and has worked in clinical, community, and primary care nutrition settings. She currently works as a freelancer on various health- and nutrition-related projects.

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