Sweet Baby Gherkins — DUMP

Name: Sweet Baby Gherkins
Brand: Mt. Olive Pickle Company Inc.

Munch or Dump rates Sweet Baby Gherkins by Mt. Olive Pickle Company Inc. DUMP — score 17/90.

What should be cucumbers in brine is really sugar water with an artificial dye. High fructose corn syrup is the #2 ingredient, propped up by alum, sodium benzoate, polysorbate 80, and Yellow 5 food coloring.

Why this verdict

High fructose corn syrup is the #2 ingredient — these are basically sugar pickles (9g sugar/serving)
Yellow 5, a synthetic petroleum-based dye, added only for color
Polysorbate 80 emulsifier and sodium benzoate preservative — additives a real pickle never needs
Alum and calcium chloride stack on top for artificial crunch
Reads as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) despite starting from a vegetable

Ingredients (11)

Cucumbers (safe) — The actual vegetable base; fine on its own.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (caution) — The dominant sweetener and second ingredient; drives the sugar load.
vinegar (safe) — Mild preservative and flavor enhancer.
Water (safe) — Used as a basic ingredient in bread.
Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
calcium chloride (safe) — Firming salt that keeps the dice from turning to mush; trace amount, well tolerated.
Alum (moderate) — Aluminum-based firming agent; not something you'd add to fresh-pickled cucumbers.
sodium benzoate (caution) — Chemical preservative for shelf life.
Natural Flavors (safe) — Flavor compounds derived from natural sources.
POLYSORBATE 80 (caution) — Synthetic emulsifier used to mimic creaminess cheaply.
yellow 5 (avoid) — Artificial dye linked to sensitivity in some people; unnecessary here.