Seoul Michelin-starred restaurant fined for serving illegal ant-topped dessert

A Seoul western district court sentenced the operator of Evett, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Gangnam, and its chief executive to fines of 10 million won and 15 million won respectively for serving a dessert topped with dried ants, an ingredient prohibited by South Korean food-safety regulations. Judge Lee Se-chang called the offence serious, noting the dish’s prolonged availability, its promotional use, and test results showing heavy-metal concentrations above permitted limits.

Prosecutors had originally sought a one-year prison term for the executive and a larger corporate fine, but the court considered the defendants’ admission, lack of prior record, and the lower number of ants actually served. The restaurant, founded by Australian chef Joseph Lidgerwood, failed to obtain temporary approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which is required for unapproved insects. The case highlights South Korea’s strict list of ten permitted edible insects and the growing scrutiny of novel food ingredients.