A South Korean chef, owner of a starred restaurant in Seoul, risks ending up behind bars for one of his most sophisticated dishes. A public prosecutor has in fact asked for a one-year prison sentence for the restaurateur, accused of using unauthorized insects as a garnish for the dessert: ants.
The forbidden ants
According to local media reports, the species used is not among the 10 varieties permitted for human consumption by South Korean law. The list includes, among others, grasshoppers, locusts and crickets. In recent days, the prosecutor’s office has also requested that the business be fined 20 million Korean won (equal to approximately 13,510 dollars, or 11,750 euros). The owner, whose identity was not disclosed, admitted the facts, but justified himself by saying that insects represented only a small part of his 15-course menu and that customers had the possibility of opting for different options.
Online reviews
The case came to light after officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found online reviews written by customers posting photographs of garnished dishes. Investigators estimate that around 49,000 specimens, imported from the United States and Thailand, were used in various dishes over a four-year period. According to Chosun Daily, health authorities also found that the restaurant used raw materials that “contained up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects.”
The defense
In his defense, the owner claimed that only 60% of customers had chosen to taste the dish garnished with ants, while the others had been served alternatives such as fermented vinegar and edible flowers. The operator added that businesses in other countries, such as Australia, Denmark and the United Kingdom, also use these ingredients. The court documents do not mention the name of the restaurant or its owner, but in South Korea there are only ten restaurants with two Michelin stars and they are all located in Seoul.