Seoul Michelin Chef Faces 1 Year in Jail Over 49,000 Unapproved Ant Servings

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 23

South Korean prosecutors say a Michelin-starred Seoul restaurant served about 49,000 dried ants since 2021, exposing its owner to up to one year in jail and a roughly $13,510 fine.
Ants are not among the 10 insect species approved under South Korea’s Food Sanitation Act, and prosecutors allege the ants contained heavy metals at up to 55 times the limit allowed for other edible insects.
The case surfaced after customers’ social media posts and online reviews mentioned ants on sorbets; the owner acknowledged serving them, while defense lawyers disputed the 49,000 figure and said only 60% of diners chose the optional garnish.
A court verdict is expected in September, in a case that highlights tighter scrutiny even as the global insect-food market is projected to grow from $1.73 billion in 2025 to $13.23 billion by 2034.