Abbie's Pickle Cornichons in Brine
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sodium (1000mg per 100g)
Green flags
- +Green flag: No added sugar
Ingredients, decoded
10 listed- Gherkins (53.73%)
- Water
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Diced Onion (0.75%)
- Firming Agent (INS 509)
- Coriander (0.15%)
- Mustard Seeds (0.07%)
- Black Pepper (0.07%)
- Natural Tarragon Flavour
Our take
CleanPlate reviewCornichons in brine: 18 kcal and 1,000 mg sodium
Abbie's Cornichons in Brine list gherkins (53.73%), water, vinegar, salt, diced onion (0.75%), firming agent (INS 509), coriander, mustard seeds, black pepper and natural tarragon flavour. The jar is 670 g with 360 g drained, and the panel is printed per 30 g serve, converted here to per 100 g.
CleanPlate scores it EA3. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The A for ingredients reflects whole or lightly processed ingredients (led by gherkins, vinegar and diced onion), with additives that cost points: calcium chloride. The 3 for risk comes mainly from sodium (1000 mg per 100 g).
Claims vs reality
What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
- On the packHolds
“Zero Trans Fat”
Trans fat is 0 g and the only fat is a trace.
- On the packBe careful
“Packing Medium: Brine 5%”
Brine is the packing medium and the source of the high sodium.
How EA3 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 1.4 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 18 kcal
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.
Clean, minimally processed
- Base
- Gherkins
- Sweeteners
- None added
- Additives
- 1
- Flagged
- None
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Moderate risk
- Added sugar
- 0 g
- Sodium
- 1000 mg
- Saturated fat
- 0 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
Gherkins (53.73%), water, vinegar, salt, diced onion (0.75%), firming agent 509, coriander (0.15%), mustard seeds (0.07%), black pepper (0.07%) and natural tarragon flavour.
Per 100 g: 18.1 kcal, 0.13 g fat of which 0 g saturated, 0 g fibre, 1.37 g protein, 1000 mg sodium. The panel is per 30 g serve (about 12 servings) and is converted by x100/30. No total sugar line is printed, so the score is provisional. The listing's sodium (774 mg or 1,000 mg) and ingredients differ; the pack was used.
Ingredients to watch
- SodiumConcern
1,000 mg per 100 g, above the 600 mg high line; 300 mg in a 30 g serve.
- Calcium chlorideWorth watching
Firming agent INS 509 costs 2 additive points.
- CaloriesFine
18 kcal per 100 g, with no added sugar and almost no fat.
- IngredientsFine
Gherkins are 54% and the rest is vinegar, salt and spices.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "Pickles are free foods"
They are low in calories but the brine carries 1,000 mg of sodium per 100 g.
Myth: "Vinegar-packed means no salt"
Salt is listed fourth and brine is the packing medium: a 30 g serve has 300 mg of sodium, 15% of the RDA on the pack.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsOccasionally
- ChildrenRarely
- Diabetes or prediabetesLimit
Smarter ways to eat it
Drain well
Draining before serving leaves some of the brine's sodium in the jar.
Use as a garnish
Three or four cornichons (about 30 g) add flavour for 300 mg of sodium.
Common questions
Is Abbie's Pickle Cornichons in Brine healthy?
Abbie's Pickle Cornichons in Brine scores EA3 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High sodium (1000mg per 100g). On the plus side: No added sugar.
What does the EA3 score mean?
The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (A) grades ingredient and label integrity: clean, minimally processed. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.
Last reviewed October 13, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.
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