SEOUL, South Korea, July 24 (World Daily Times) — South Korean prosecutors are asking a court to sentence the owner of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Seoul to one year in prison after accusing him of violating the country’s Food Sanitation Act by serving ants as food ingredients and garnish.
They are also seeking a 20 million won fine for the restaurant’s operating company.
What do prosecutors allege?
In court, prosecutors said the restaurant imported dried ant products from the United States and Thailand and used them on dishes for about four years starting in 2021.
They estimate the restaurant served ant-topped sorbet more than 12,200 times, for a total of about 49,000 ants.
Health regulators also reported testing the imported ants and finding heavy metals at levels up to 55 times the maximum allowed for other edible insects.
How did the case come to light?
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, inspectors noticed the issue after seeing customers’ social-media posts and online reviews that showed or mentioned ants on dishes.
That led to the investigation that is now before the court.
What does the restaurant owner say?
Court reporting says the owner has admitted serving ants, but disputes the prosecutors’ numbers.
The defense says the ants were only a small part of a 15-course menu and that diners could choose other toppings instead.
Why is this a criminal case?
The charge centers on South Korea’s food-safety law, the Food Sanitation Act. Prosecutors say the restaurant broke that law by using ants in dishes in a way the law does not allow.
The case is drawing attention not only because of the ant topping itself, but also because the restaurant is described as Michelin-starred and because regulators say the imported ants failed safety testing.
What happens next?
A ruling is expected on Sept. 2, according to court scheduling reported in Korean media.
Until then, the allegations remain accusations, and the court has not yet issued a final decision.
