SEOUL: The owner of a renowned South Korean restaurant is facing a possible prison sentence after allegedly serving dishes decorated with imported ants, in violation of the country’s food safety regulations.
According to local media reports, the restaurant used ants as a garnish on several dessert dishes, a practice that is not permitted under South Korean food laws, which do not recognize ants as an approved ingredient for human consumption.
Prosecutors have asked the court to sentence the restaurant owner to one year in prison and impose a fine of 13,510 US dollars for violating food hygiene regulations.
The case was launched after South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety began investigating reports that ants were being used in the restaurant’s menu.
During court proceedings, the restaurant owner admitted that ants had been used in limited quantities as decorative toppings on certain dishes. He argued that customers had been informed about the use of the insects before being served.
Investigators revealed that approximately 49,000 ants, imported from the United States and Thailand, had been used in the restaurant’s dishes over the past four years.
The court is expected to announce its verdict on September 2.
About The Author
