Gherkins
Other names Cornichons, Pickles
Gherkins: high in histamine and salicylate; moderate in tyramine; low in FODMAPs and sucrose. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)High
Gherkins split into two products that share a jar shape: TRADITIONALLY FERMENTED in brine, which is a live lactic ferment and high here, and QUICK-PICKLED in vinegar, which is not fermented at all - the acid does the preserving. The ingredient list separates them: vinegar means pickled and low in histamine, salt and water alone mean fermented.
Sources· 2
- Comas-Baste et al., Biomolecules 2020
- McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006
- SalicylateHigh
Gherkins carry more salicylate than the cucumber they are made from: 6 mg per 100 g, the top of a vegetable range that ran from 0 to 6 across a survey of 333 foods. The brine is part of what gets eaten, and the dill, peppercorns and mustard seed in it each carry salicylate of their own, so a jarred gherkin is not the raw cucumber it started as.
Sources· 1
- Swain A.R., Dutton S.P. & Truswell A.S., Journal of the American Dietetic Association 85 (1985) 950–960, salicylic acid in 333 foods by HPLC at 235 nm — the authors note their extraction was more complete than earlier methods, so their figures run higher than other surveys'
- TyramineModerate
Gherkins split into two products sharing a jar shape: traditionally FERMENTED in brine, which is a live lactic ferment and belongs here, and quick-pickled in vinegar, which is not fermented at all. Vinegar on the ingredient list means pickled and low in tyramine; salt and water alone mean fermented.
Sources· 2
- EFSA Journal 2011 (tyramine and histamine in fermented foods)
- McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006
- FODMAPsLow
Gherkins are genuinely low: cucumber, which is among the lowest vegetables. Vegetables split on this axis by which organ you eat - storage organs like onion and garlic hoard fructans, while leaves, stems and young shoots do not. Knowing which part of the plant is on the plate answers most of the question.
Sources· 3
- Muir J et al., J Agric Food Chem 55 (2007) 6619-6627 and 57 (2009) 554-565, fructans and short-chain carbohydrates measured in Australian vegetables and fruit
- Tuck C et al., J Hum Nutr Diet 31 (2018), FODMAP content of common plant-based and processed foods
- USDA FoodData Central, the national nutrient database, queried for the sugar profile
- SucroseLow
Gherkins are cucumbers in vinegar, and the sweet pickled styles have sugar in the brine while the salt-only ones have none. Cornichon and bread-and-butter pickle are different answers in the same jar shape.
Sources· 1
- USDA FoodData Central, the national nutrient database, queried for the sugar profile
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- GlutenNo
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- NickelNone
- OxalatesNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)? Check these too
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does Gherkins affect?
Gherkins is notable for histamine, salicylate, tyramine, FODMAPs and sucrose. Clear on lactose, gluten, fructose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, nickel and oxalates.
Does Gherkins contain histamine?
Yes — Gherkins is high in histamine. Gherkins split into two products that share a jar shape: TRADITIONALLY FERMENTED in brine, which is a live lactic ferment and high here, and QUICK-PICKLED in vinegar, which is not fermented at all - the acid does the preserving. The ingredient list separates them: vinegar means pickled and low in histamine, salt and water alone mean fermented.
Does Gherkins contain salicylate?
Yes — Gherkins is high in salicylate. Gherkins carry more salicylate than the cucumber they are made from: 6 mg per 100 g, the top of a vegetable range that ran from 0 to 6 across a survey of 333 foods. The brine is part of what gets eaten, and the dill, peppercorns and mustard seed in it each carry salicylate of their own, so a jarred gherkin is not the raw cucumber it started as.
Does Gherkins contain tyramine?
Gherkins contains moderate levels of tyramine. Gherkins split into two products sharing a jar shape: traditionally FERMENTED in brine, which is a live lactic ferment and belongs here, and quick-pickled in vinegar, which is not fermented at all. Vinegar on the ingredient list means pickled and low in tyramine; salt and water alone mean fermented.
Does Gherkins contain FODMAPs?
Gherkins contains only low levels of FODMAPs. Gherkins are genuinely low: cucumber, which is among the lowest vegetables. Vegetables split on this axis by which organ you eat - storage organs like onion and garlic hoard fructans, while leaves, stems and young shoots do not. Knowing which part of the plant is on the plate answers most of the question. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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