Greedy seagulls have run up a £171million bill over stolen or spoilt meals, report says
A survey commissioned by Compare the Market estimates that seagulls cost people in Britain £171 million each year through food being stolen or spoiled outdoors. The finding highlights the widespread nuisance posed by gulls in coastal and urban areas, particularly to people eating takeaway meals such as fish and chips.
The company’s “Great Greedy Gull Index” put the average loss from a gull incident at £5.50 and found that nearly three-quarters of respondents had been targeted. More than three-quarters said they had changed how or where they ate outside to avoid gulls, while almost a third had abandoned or dropped food; the firm is also funding a one-day £1,000 replacement-food offer at a Margate fish-and-chip shop.
- Seagull-related food losses are estimated at £171 million annually.
- Fish and chips are the most commonly targeted meal.
- Most surveyed people now take precautions when eating outdoors.
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Gulls are common in Britain’s coastal towns and cities, where they often feed on food left outdoors. Takeaways such as fish and chips can attract them, and a bird may snatch food or spoil it while people are eating.
The reported cost is an estimate based on a survey commissioned by price-comparison company Compare the Market. It reflects the value of food people say they have lost, rather than a bill paid to councils or a measure of wider costs to businesses and communities.