Prosecutors in South Korea have asked a court to sentence the owner of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant to one year in prison for serving a dessert topped with ants – an insect not approved for human consumption under local food safety law. The request, made on Monday, also sought a 20m won (£10,108) fine for the company that runs the restaurant, according to Yonhap news agency.
The restaurant, located in Seoul’s upmarket Gangnam district, served sorbet sprinkled with dried ants to customers who wanted the flavour. The case came to light after officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found reviews and photographs posted online by diners. Investigators estimate that some 49,000 ants, imported from the US and Thailand, were used in several dishes over four years. Health authorities found the ants “contained up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects”, according to a report in The Chosun Daily.
“Prosecutors seek one-year jail term for owner of two-Michelin-star Seoul restaurant for serving ant-topped sorbet.”
Under South Korean law, only 10 insect species – including grasshoppers, locusts and two-spotted crickets – are approved for human consumption. Ants are not among them. The restaurant owner admitted to serving ants but argued they were used only in a “small part” of the 15-course menu – as a topping for sorbets – and that diners were told they could choose non-ant toppings. He added that just 60% of diners had opted to try the ants, while the rest were served alternatives like fermented vinegar and edible flowers. He also noted that restaurants in Australia, Denmark and the UK use ants as ingredients.
The court is set to deliver its verdict on 2 September. Violating the food sanitation act carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a 50m won fine.
