Seoul’s Evett restaurant fined for ants in desserts — MyJoyOnline
In Seoul, South Korea, the owner of the two-Michelin-starred Evett restaurant was fined 15 million won for using ants as decoration for desserts. The company managing the establishment was also fined 10 million won for violating the Food Sanitation Act, MyJoyOnline reports.
Ants are not among the permitted insects
In South Korea, ants are not included in the list of 10 insect species permitted for consumption. The approved list includes, among others, grasshoppers, locusts and certain types of silkworms.
Prosecutors sought one year in prison and a fine of 20 million won for the restaurant owner. According to local media, the court took into account his admission of the charges and the absence of previous convictions.
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Ants were added to sorbets for nearly four years
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety uncovered the violation after finding online reviews with photographs of dishes. According to the agency, the owner added three to five ants to certain dishes for nearly four years to give them a sour taste. In total, about 49,000 ants were used as garnish.
The ants were used as a topping for sorbets. Most of them were imported from the United States, while some were from Thailand. The owner stated that this ingredient was only a small part of the 15-course menu and that visitors were offered an alternative decoration. Reports say the judge also noted that tests found heavy metals in the ants at concentrations exceeding established limits.
