Michelin-starred restaurateur faces jail for using ants as dessert garnish
A Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea is facing legal action for using ants as a dessert garnish, which is not currently on the government's approved list of edible insects. Prosecutors are seeking a jail term for the owner, citing health concerns regarding heavy metal content.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tension between avant-garde culinary innovation and strict food safety regulations regarding novel ingredients.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Officials say the restaurant used some 49,000 ants in various dishes, such as ant-topped sorbet, over four years
South Korean prosecutors sought a one-year jail term for the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant accused of using ants as a dessert garnish, local media reported.
Ants are not among the 10 insect species approved for human consumption under the country's laws. The approved list includes grasshoppers, locusts and two-spotted crickets, among others.
Prosecutors on Monday also asked that the restaurant, which holds two Michelin stars, be fined 20 million Korean won ($13,510; £10,100).
The owner admitted to serving ants but argued that they were used in a "small part" of the restaurant's 15-course menu – as a topping for sorbets – and that diners were told they could opt for non-ant toppings.
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