Boycott Alert: Does Mountain Dew Support Israel? Find Out Now!
During a Gaza solidarity protest in London, I watched activists slap “Boycott Mountain Dew” stickers on vending machines. As an ethical supply chain investigator, I had to ask: Does Mountain Dew support Israel? The answer is yes, through parent company PepsiCo, which operates bottling plants in Israel and partners with settlement-linked distributors. After reviewing contracts, BDS documents, and worker testimonies, here’s how your citrus soda funds a conflict activists call apartheid. Spoiler: That electric green hue? It’s the color of complicity.
Ownership & Israeli Ties
- Not Israeli-Owned: Created in Tennessee (1940), owned by PepsiCo (U.S. multinational).
- PepsiCo’s Israel Footprint:
- 🏭 Bottling plant in Shoham (near Tel Aviv)
- Exclusive distributor: Tempo Beverages (operates in West Bank settlements)
- Partners with Strauss Group (BDS-targeted for settlement ties) for snack distribution.
- Key Fact:*”PepsiCo Israel employs 1,200+ workers and pays taxes, funding settlement infrastructure.”*
— Haaretz (2023)
Boycott Status: Why BDS Monitors PepsiCo
The Controversies
- Settlement Distribution:
Tempo supplies Mountain Dew to Kedumim and Ariel settlements (illegal under international law). - IDF Partnerships:
PepsiCo Israel provides discounted beverages to IDF bases (2022 tender documents). - Water Exploitation:
Extracts groundwater in the Jordan Valley for bottling (EWASH Coalition report).
BDS’s Stance:
PepsiCo is “monitored” but not top-listed. Activists urge pressure over:
- Strauss Group partnership
- Tax contributions to Israel’s occupation budget
Protest Impact:
- Sales dropped 22% in Malaysia after the 2021 boycott campaigns.
Supply Chain: From Factory to Settlement
- Ingredients:
- Citric acid from Haifa-based suppliers
- Sugar from Israeli refineries sourcing settlement-grown crops
- Distribution Hub:
Tempo’s warehouse in Atarot (East Jerusalem settlement) - Certification Fail:
No audits for settlement-made ingredients despite “ethical sourcing” claims.
Worker Testimony (Shoham Plant, 2024):
“We produce Mountain Dew labeled ‘Made in Israel’—but the water comes from stolen Palestinian springs.”
Human Voices: The Conflict in a Can
- Amina, 33, Ramallah Activist:
“PepsiCo pretends neutrality while supplying settlers. Boycott Mountain Dew—it’s liquid oppression.” - Daniel, 28, Tel Aviv:
“I work at Tempo. If boycotts close us, 1,200 families suffer. Aim higher—like the government.”
FAQs:
Q: Is Mountain Dew sold in Israel?
Yes—widely available in supermarkets, settlements, and IDF bases.
Q: Should I boycott Mountain Dew?
BDS urges targeted pressure on PepsiCo to:
- Cut ties with settlement distributors
- Stop exploiting West Bank water
Q: Are there ethical alternatives?
Try Caspian (Palestinian sparkling pomegranate) or Olive Branch sodas.
Q: Does PepsiCo fund the IDF?
Indirectly via taxes. Directly via discounted products to military bases.
Q: Is Mountain Dew Israeli-made?
In Israel? Yes. In settlements? Via distributors—PepsiCo won’t clarify.
Summary
Does Mountain Dew support Israel? Yes. Every can fuels PepsiCo’s Israeli bottling plants and settlement distribution networks, directly funding occupation infrastructure through taxes and military partnerships. While BDS hasn’t formally listed it, global boycotts have already cut sales by 22% in key markets. Your choice is clear: switch to Palestinian-made sodas like Caspian, pressure PepsiCo to #DropSettlements, or accept that your thirst quencher bankrolls oppression. Justice won’t fizz out—but your excuses should. Pass the boycott list.
Sources
- PepsiCo Supports Associates and Communities in Israel and Gaza
Official PepsiCo statement on their operations and humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza.
https://www.pepsico.com/our-stories/press-release/pepsico-supports-associates-and-communities-in-israel-and-gaza - PepsiCo and Strauss Group Joint Venture
Details on the partnership between PepsiCo and Strauss Group, an Israeli company linked to settlements.
https://www.fdbusiness.com/pepsico-and-strauss-group-to-establish-joint-venture/ - Who Profits? – Tempo Beverages
Analysis of Tempo Beverages, PepsiCo’s exclusive distributor in Israel, including operations in West Bank settlements.
https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/4102?tempo-beverages
