Pickle Bouncing
In bathroom readers around the world, in every fact generator on the Internet, we’ve stumbled across the “fact” that Connecticut law requires pickles to bounce in order to be considered pickles.
Searching laws, regulations and ordinances, this pickle law is hard to come by. The only inkling to be found is a 1948 article about the arrest of a pair of pickle packers, Sidney Sparer and Moses Dexler, selling canned cukes “unfit for human consumption.”
In that article, the state’s Food and Drug Commissioner goes on to tell reporters that, in addition to laboratory testing, if you drop a pickle from the height of one foot, it should bounce.
The pickles in question did not bounce. Sparer and Dexler were fined $500—the maximum penalty—and the pickles were destroyed. Connecticut’s bouncing-pickle regulation went into effect soon after.
So, its not a law per se. Simply a regulation based off of case law.
Speaking of Bouncing…
The 20,000 square-foot Big Bounce America we were just in is kinda a big dill.
It features a DJ, confetti cannons, a basketball court, obstacle course, a giant slide that luges into a ball pit. Pretty much any and everything you could ever ask for. Did we mention it’s the largest inflatable in the WORLD?
Check out Big Bounce America as it travels the country.
Lol? Can Big Bounce America come to Illinois?
Illinois yes!
What the heck! I have to make a Tell me something i dont know for school and bouncing pickles are exactly what i need!!
What chemical in a pickle makes it bounce? I am doing a science experiment about this and I am trying to find out.
[…] in Ripley’s Guide to Non-Perishables, we have to recommend the crisp crunch of a pickle—only if legitimate—or an onion. Believe it or not, diners actually have to win a raffle for the pleasure of eating […]