The owner of a Michelin two-star restaurant in South Korea is facing a year in prison for serving a dessert topped with black ants.
Prosecutors say a palate-cleansing sorbet topped with three to five black ants was sold more than 12,200 times by the Seoul restaurant, despite the insects not being approved for human consumption in the country.
The restaurant operator is charged with violating South Korea’s Food Sanitation Act by importing dried ants from the U.S. and Thailand and using them as a garnish on a dish over a four-year period, according to newspaper JoogAng Daily.
Prosecutors said the desert was sold more than 12,200 times, generating about 120 million won ($81,000) in revenue. They estimate that around 49,000 ants were served to diners.
During a hearing at Seoul Western District Court on Monday, prosecutors said they were seeking a fine of 20 million won (about $13,500) against the company that operates the restaurant.
South Korean law permits 10 insect species for human consumption, including grasshoppers and mealworm larvae. Ants are not among the approved species.
Food safety officials began an investigation into the restaurant after seeing photos and descriptions of the ant desert on blogs and social media.
Health authorities said the ants contained concentrations of heavy metals significantly higher than those typically found in edible insects approved for human consumption.
The restaurant owner admitted to most of the charges, but disputed the prosecution’s estimate of the number of ants served.
The restaurateur's defence added that the ants represented a small part of a 15-course tasting menu and noted that restaurants in countries including Denmark, Britain, and Australia use ants in fine dining.
The court is expected to deliver its verdict on 2 September.
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