The Connecticut Pickle Law is one of those quirky legal tales that has earned a place in internet folklore — and it’s sort of true, with a juicy twist.
The Strange Case of the Connecticut Pickle Law 🥒
In 1948, two pickle packers named Sidney Sparer and Moses Dexler were caught selling pickles that had gone bad. Local health inspectors found their pickles were slimy and unfit for human consumption. That prompted the Connecticut Food and Drug Commissioner at the time, Frederic Holcomb, to take action.
The Bounce Test
To determine if a pickle was safe to sell, officials came up with an unusual standard:
"A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces."
This became known as the "pickle bounce test." Basically, if you dropped the pickle from a height of one foot and it bounced, it was deemed acceptable. If it splatted or just lay there sadly — it failed.
While this wasn’t technically enshrined as permanent state law, it became an official quality test used by the Connecticut Food and Drug Department at the time.
Why the Bounce?
The bounce was believed to indicate firmness and freshness — two traits important in judging whether the pickles had been properly brined and stored. Mushy pickles = spoiled pickles.
Not Really on the Law Books
Despite what urban legends say, there is no actual statute in the Connecticut General Statutes that states a pickle must bounce to be legally sold. It was a regulatory enforcement method, not a literal law — but the catchy phrasing made it into headlines and folklore.
The Outcome
Sparer and Dexler’s unsellable pickles were destroyed, and they were fined. The event helped prompt better food safety regulations in the state.
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