In South Korea, prosecutors are seeking prison time for the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant for incorporating ants into desserts. According to the British BBC and South Korean media outlets “Korea Herald” and “Chosun Daily”, approximately 49,000 ants have been used as a topping for sorbet since 2021.
During a court session on Monday, the prosecution requested a one-year prison sentence and a fine exceeding 10,000 euros for the restaurant owner. In South Korea, ants, unlike locusts, are not among the ten types of insects legally permitted for consumption.
Details of the case and the defense’s position
According to BBC, authorities became aware of the allegedly illegal dish through photos shared by guests on social media. The name of the chef who operates the two Michelin star restaurant is not disclosed in court documents.
As noted by Guide Michelin, there are ten restaurants with two Michelin stars in South Korea, all located in Seoul. The owner of the establishment, as reported by BBC, argued in his defense that the ants were merely a minor component of a 15-course tasting menu.
Guests could choose their own toppings for the dessert, which led to the case being opened, and in about 60 percent of instances, they opted for ants over fermented vinegar or edible flowers. The defense also pointed out that ants are featured on the menus of restaurants in Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
The specific species of ants used has not been identified. Meanwhile, “Chosun Daily” reports that, based on available data, they may contain “up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects”. According to “Korea Herald”, the ants were imported from the United States and Thailand.
Source: Der Spiegel
