South Korean prosecutors have requested a one-year prison sentence for the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant accused of illegally serving ants as a dessert garnish, according to local media.
Under South Korean food safety regulations, ants are not among the 10 insect species approved for human consumption. The list of permitted edible insects includes grasshoppers, locusts and two-spotted crickets, among others.
Prosecutors also asked the court to impose a fine of 20 million Korean won (about $13,510 or £10,100) on the restaurant, which holds two Michelin stars.
The restaurant owner admitted that ants were served but argued they were only used as a garnish on sorbets in a small portion of the restaurant’s 15-course tasting menu. Diners, the owner said, were informed beforehand and offered the option of choosing a different topping.
The investigation began after officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety discovered online reviews featuring photographs of dishes topped with ants.
Authorities estimate that around 49,000 ants imported from the United States and Thailand were used in the restaurant’s dishes over a four-year period.
Health officials also reported that the ants contained heavy metal levels up to 55 times higher than those typically found in approved edible insects, according to The Chosun Daily.
