Prosecution Seeks 1-Year Prison Sentence for Michelin-Starred Restaurant Owner Over 'Ant Topping'

A one-year prison sentence has been requested for the owner of a two-star Michelin restaurant who was indicted on charges of using ants, an insect not approved for human consumption, in their dishes.

During the trial held today (July 20) at the Seoul Western District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Se-chang of the 8th Criminal Division, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office asked the court to sentence the restaurant owner, identified as A, to one year in prison for violating the Food Sanitation Act.

The prosecution also requested a fine of 20 million won for the corporate entity that operates the restaurant.

A and the corporation are accused of importing dried ant products from the United States and Thailand starting in 2021 and serving them as toppings on certain dishes at the restaurant for approximately four years.

Under the Food Sanitation Act, ants are not included in the 10 types of insects approved for human consumption and cannot be used as food ingredients.

The prosecution determined that the restaurant sold sorbet containing ants over 12,200 times, generating approximately 120 million won in revenue.

The prosecution estimated that the total number of ants used in the food was approximately 49,000.

In response, A's side admitted to most of the charges but contested the prosecution's estimate of the number of ants used in the dishes.

Seo Min-seok, the attorney representing A, stated, "We did not serve them to customers who refused the ants," adding, "Only about 60 percent of customers accepted them, but the prosecution calculated the figure based on the assumption that all customers consumed them."

Furthermore, Seo emphasized, "The menu items topped with ants are only a very small part of the 15-course meal," and added, "Restaurants in various countries, including Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Australia, use ants as food ingredients."

The sentencing for A and the corporation is scheduled for September 2.

(Photo: Yonhap News/Provided by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.