A Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea could be sent to jail for up to one year after using ants as part of a garnish for desserts.
Across the world, there are plenty of chefs and restaurants who experiment with different ingredients to create unique food experiences. Some of these have been more popular than others, especially with things like gold leaf garnishes.
In some cases, restaurants will use food that you would otherwise never eat or even consider eating. That might be insects or other wild animals - there is a pizza place in Florida which cooks python pizza and pasta, as an example.
Well, over in South Korea, one Michelin-star restaurateur has found themselves in hot water, and may end up behind bars, because of their use of ants.
Restaurant owner argues against potential jail time
According to Star News Korea, Korean prosecutors have sought at least one year of jail time for the chef and restaurant owner, who has only been named as Chef A. They also want a fine of 20 million Korean won, which is around $13,510 and £10,000.
Ants are not approved for human consumption under Korean law, and the owner admitted they were used in a “small part” of their service for desserts. They also argued that diners were able to select a non-ant option too.
The first trial was held on July 20, with the restaurant, its operating company, and representative all being charged with violating the Food Sanitation Act. It is a Michelin 2-star restaurant, and even appeared on a Netflix show known as Culinary Class War.
They also argued that the restaurant's success came before they introduced the ants to their menu, and that almost “60% of 60% of all customers consented” to the unusual ingredients.
As per the report, the restaurant will find out the court’s verdict on September 2, and it remains to be seen if they’ll end up behind bars.45:Td47, A Mic
