Michelin-starred restaurateur faces jail for using ants as dessert garnish

South Korean prosecutors are seeking a one-year jail term and a fine of 20 million Korean won (approximately $13,510) for the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant for allegedly using ants as a dessert garnish. Ants are not among the 10 insect species approved for human consumption under the country's laws.

The restaurant owner admitted to serving ants but argued they were used in a "small part" of the restaurant's 15-course menu—as a topping for sorbets—and that diners were informed they could opt for non-ant toppings. Investigators estimate that some 49,000 ants, imported from the US and Thailand, were used in several dishes over four years.

Health authorities also found that the restaurant used ants that "contained up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects," according to a report on The Chosun Daily. The court is set to deliver its verdict on 2 September.