In response to this claim, I have to say that my first experience with Snapple makes me suspect, if anything, something quite the opposite.
It was 1991 (1992?), and I was one of many "extras" working on the film Leap of Faith, during some sound-stage scenes in the studios at Las Colinas. When we arrived on the first day, we were told to help ourselves to the huge spread that was in the building where we waited to be called in for tent scenes, etc. I was looking through the cans of soda and the big igloo jugs of lemonade, tea, and water, and I wondered what all the big crates under the tables had in them.
I opened one up, and that's when I discovered Snapple. At the time, I don't think it was even being marketed in Dallas, yet. Having heard all these stories about the mafia or the unions (same thing?) running the film biz (or at least the catering - we get the weirdest rumors) out in California (so they were probably liberal or "fruity" mafia?), I just kinda assumed that, not having seen lots of people drinking it, that the caterers had made some kind of kick-back deal with someone's brother-in-law or something to buy a bunch of fruity drinks that nobody really wanted.
I was wrong, of course. At least about the idea that nobody wanted it. I noticed a lot more people drinking Snapple around the set once I started looking for it, and I tried some and liked the flavors quite a bit, at least until the novelty wore off. Of course, I later turned out a bit fruity, too... so my suspicions are probably closer to the truth than some finger-pointing fools assuming it's made by klansmen without bothering to do any research (or, perhaps, spreading rumors on purpose, for their own nefarious reasons).
I mean... come on! Have you ever seen some cross-burning loony in a flowery print bedsheet?
Zerotime says: I'm fairly sure there's a scene in Fletch Lives involving the KKK and a flower print bedsheet.