Does Alka Seltzer Make Seagulls Explode?

The idea that Alka-Seltzer and other gas-producing chemicals lead seagulls to burst is false. Since seagulls may regurgitate their stomach contents, they can eliminate potentially harmful food sources before they cause harm.

According to the urban legend concerning seagulls and Alka-Seltzer, the foaming and gas generation from a tablet will cause the bird’s stomach to swell, leading to its eventual explosion. Myth proponents argue that seagulls’ inability to pass gas renders them incapable of tolerating Alka-Seltzer. However, the biology of seagulls contradicts this claim. Similarly, birds that consume uncooked rice kernels do not explode.