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Mountain Dew: Evil Brew

Debunked: Mountain Dew makes you less of a man; Diet Dew pickles you in formaldehyde.

Multiple rumours have circulated for a long time about Mountain Dew. Most have related to the alleged penis-shrinking, testicle-shrinking, prostate-toxic, sperm-nuking properties of the yellow colouring (tartrazine). None have been substantiated. Tartrazine has, however, been linked with reactions including asthma and anaphylaxis, particularly in aspirin-sensitive people.

More recently, the Mountain Dew rumours have coalesced with the aspartame-methanol scarelore to form an interesting new mutant: when you are opened up in surgery, the doctors can tell if you're a Diet Dew drinker. How? Your organs smell of formaldehyde.

References:

• "Tartrazine (FD & C yellow #5) anaphylaxis: a case report. " Desmond RE, Trautlein JJ. Ann Allergy 1981 Feb 46:2 81-2
• "Clinical spectrum of adverse reactions to tartrazine." Collins-Williams C. J Asthma 1985 22:3 139-43