Cloudy, Bubbling Brine in My Pickles - Botulism?

Question

I've just opened a new jar of dill pickles from the supermarket and the brine is all cloudy. On closer inspection, I can see little bubbles rising to the top, as if it's fizzy. I don't recall ever seeing this before.

My late wife used to can vegetables from our garden, and if a jar looked like this, we'd have tossed it straight away. I'm a bit wary of all these newfangled processes they use these days. Is this some normal 'fermentation' I keep hearing about, or is this the beginning of something dangerous like botulism? I was hoping to have a few with my supper, but at my age, I cannot afford to take any chances. I'd appreciate some plain-spoken advice on whether these are safe to eat or if I should just throw the whole lot out. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello Walter, That's a very good question, and you are right to be cautious. Your wife's rule of thumb was a wise one for home canning, where conditions can be less controlled. Let's break down what might be happening here. There are generally two types of pickles you find in a store:

• Vinegar Pickles: These are the most common type. Cucumbers are preserved in a brine of vinegar, water, salt, and spices. The jar is then pasteurized (heated) to kill any bacteria, making it shelf-stable. For these pickles, cloudiness and bubbles are not normal. It indicates that the seal on the jar was compromised, allowing yeast or bacteria to get in and start a secondary, unwanted fermentation. This is a sign of spoilage.
• Fermented Pickles: These are sometimes sold in the refrigerated section. They are made by soaking cucumbers in a saltwater brine, allowing beneficial lactobacillus bacteria to grow. This process naturally creates lactic acid, which preserves the pickles. A byproduct of this fermentation can be carbon dioxide (fizzing) and a cloudy brine from the bacteria. In this case, it's normal.

Given you bought them from a standard supermarket shelf, they are almost certainly the first type—vinegar pickles. Therefore, the bubbling and cloudiness are signs of spoilage. While the high acidity of pickle brine makes Clostridium botulinum (the botulism bacteria) growth extremely unlikely, other spoilage organisms can still make you sick. My professional advice is to trust your instincts and what your wife taught you: do not eat them. You can return the jar to the supermarket for a refund or exchange. When it comes to food safety, it is never worth the risk. If you're interested in learning more about the science of pickling and how different acids work, there is a good primer you could read called Pickled Cucumbers and Zucchini with Citric Acid.

Answer 2

Oh that is definitely not right!!! For my meal prepping, food safety is my number one priority... I can't have one bad ingredient making me sick for the rest of the week! Most store-bought pickles like you describe are pasteurised, which means they are heat-sealed and there should be NO bacteria activity inside. Cloudiness and bubbles mean the seal was broken at some point and it has spoiled...

It's very, very unlikely to be botulism because the vinegar makes the brine too acidic for it to grow. But other bacteria have clearly gotten in and are having a party in there! It's definately spoiled and could give you an upset stomach. I would not eat them. You should be able to take it back to the store for a refund or a new jar! Better to be safe :)

Answer 3

that's a tough one. it reminds me of helping my aunt with her garden canning when i was a kid. she made two kinds: the clear, sharp vinegar pickles and the old-style salt brine pickles. the salt brine ones were always cloudy and would sometimes fizz a little when you opened them, and they were perfectly delicious.

however, the pickles you get from the main aisle of the supermarket are almost always the vinegar kind. for those, bubbling is a bad sign that the seal failed. your caution is completely warranted. when in doubt, it's always best to follow the 'throw it out' rule.

Answer 4

Nope nope nope!!! Do not eat that... Take it straight back to the shop for a refund! Any bubbling in a normal jar of pickles means its gone off. Why risk it for a few quid... Bin it or get your money back mate :)

Answer 5

Your wife was a wise woman. When I was a boy in the old country, if a jar was cloudy or made a popping sound, it went to the pigs. We did not ask questions and we did not get sick. These new factories with their chemicals are not to be trusted. Throw it in the garbage, it is poison.

Answer 6

If its cloudy and fizzy toss it out... Not worth getting sick. Supermarket stuff should be clear. I bought a jar of pickled eggs once that looked weird... I threw them right in the trash can. Better safe then sorry!!!