Michelin-starred restaurateur faces jail for using ants as dessert garnish

What the report says

BBC World News reported that South Korean prosecutors have requested a one-year prison sentence for the owner of an unnamed two-Michelin-starred restaurant accused of serving ants as a garnish in dishes over several years. According to the report, prosecutors also sought a fine of 20 million won, about $13,510, for the Seoul restaurant. A verdict is expected on 2 September.

The case centres on South Korea’s food safety rules, which allow only certain insect species to be used for human consumption. Ants are not on that approved list, which includes insects such as grasshoppers, locusts and two-spotted crickets. The restaurant owner acknowledged serving ants, BBC reported, but said they appeared only as a minor element of a 15-course menu, including as a sorbet topping, and that diners could choose alternatives.

The matter reportedly began after Ministry of Food and Drug Safety officials saw online diner reviews containing photos of dishes sprinkled with ants. Investigators estimated that about 49,000 ants, imported from the United States and Thailand, were used in multiple dishes over four years. BBC, citing The Chosun Daily, said health authorities also found the ants contained substantially higher heavy-metal levels than typical edible insects.

The restaurant and owner were not identified in court documents cited by the BBC. The report noted that South Korea has 10 two-star Michelin restaurants, all in Seoul. While ants are eaten in some food cultures around the world, the South Korean case highlights how fine-dining experimentation can collide with national food safety approval systems.