2026-07-23 12:01:31
The owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea is facing jail after serving diners sorbet topped with black ants imported from overseas.
Prosecutors say the insects were used as a garnish on desserts at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district, despite being banned under the country’s Food Sanitation Act.
The dried black ants, imported from the US and Thailand, were prized for the sharp, sour flavour they added to the sorbet.
The restaurateur has been fined 20 million won (around £10,000) and could face up to a year behind bars after admitting the ants were served to customers.
The defence argued the insects made up only a tiny part of the restaurant’s 15-course tasting menu and claimed just 60 per cent of diners chose to add the unusual topping.
But prosecutors said the controversial garnish was served 12,200 times over a four-year period, generating around 120 million won (£60,000) in revenue.
Officials estimate roughly 49,000 ants were used.
The case came to light after inspectors from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety spotted online reviews showing desserts sprinkled with ants.
According to local news outlet Chosun Daily, testing found the imported insects contained up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects.
South Korean law currently permits only 10 approved insect species for human consumption, including grasshoppers and mealworms.
Ants, however, are not on the approved list despite being commonly eaten in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. They are also legally used as ingredients in countries including the UK, Australia and Denmark.
Prosecutors told the court the restaurant’s head chef had become accustomed to using ants to add acidity to dishes while working in the United States and Europe and was unaware South Korean food laws differed.
Court documents did not identify either the restaurant or its owner. Seoul is home to 10 restaurants with two Michelin stars.
The restaurateur is due to be sentenced on September 2, when the court will decide whether the ant-covered dessert deserves a prison term as well as a hefty fine.
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