29/07/2026
Two-Michelin-Starred Chef in Korea Faces Jail for Serving 49,000 Black Ants on Sorbet
A Michelin-starred chef is facing jail over one of fine dining's most unusual ingredients. A two-Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea has been accused of serving black ants as a garnish on sorbet for nearly four years, allegedly using around 49,000 ants to add a sour, citrus-like flavor to the dish.
What happened:
• Restaurant: Evett — 2 Michelin stars, Gangnam, Seoul. Chef Joseph Lidgerwood (Australian, Netflix Culinary Class Wars)
• Dish: Apple & sansho leaf sorbet topped with 3-5 frozen black ants as palate cleanser in 15-course tasting menu. Sour, citrusy kick
• Scale: ∼49,000 dried ants imported from US & Thailand via express mail, 12,200+ servings from April 2021 – Jan 2025, revenue 120M won (∼$81,000)
• How caught: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety spotted ants in customer Instagram / blog reviews, not routine inspection. Evidence: tin labeled “Cuisine Black Ants”
Why illegal:
South Korea’s Food Sanitation Act allows only 10 insects (grasshoppers, mealworms, silkworm pupae/beondegi, locusts, crickets etc). Ants NOT on list. Need temporary approval — restaurant didn’t get it. Lab test: ants had up to 55x heavy metal limit vs approved insects
Penalties sought:
Prosecutors at Seoul Western District Court asked 1 year prison for owner + 20M won fine (∼$13,500) for company. Max by law = 5 years / 50M won. Defense: optional, only ∼60% chose it, alternative toppings = fermented vinegar / edible flowers.
Chef: “I ate ants overseas, didn’t know Korea bans it — legal in Denmark, UK, Australia.” Court apology: “failure to fully understand regulations.” Verdict expected Sept 2, 2026
Debate:
Innovation vs safety. Noma in Copenhagen serves ants legally. Korea says food safety needs testing for toxins/allergens first.
Source: BBC, CNN, Fox News, The Times, Chosun Daily, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety — July 20-23, 2026
