Edible-ineligible 'ants' sold to customers for four years... 'Black and White Chef Lisa 1' Michelin 2-star restaurant controversy [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

A chef from Season 1 of 'Black and White Chef Lisa', identified as Chef A, who serves as the owner-chef at a Michelin 2-star restaurant, is under suspicion of using and selling 'ants' not permitted under the Food Sanitation Act in its dishes.

According to Financial News on the 20th, Seoul Western District Court's Criminal Division 8 (Judge Lee Se-chang (Director)) held the first trial against Restaurant B operating company and its representative C, both charged with violating the Food Sanitation Act. The restaurant is a Michelin 2-star establishment led by Chef A, an Australian-born chef who appeared on the global OTT Netflix cooking competition program 'Black and White Chef Lisa: Culinary Class War' (hereinafter 'Black and White Chef Lisa'). The restaurant's introduction page notes that it featured in the first episode of 'Black and White Chef Lisa', released on September 17, 2024.

The Prosecution Service requested a one-year prison sentence for Representative C and a fine of 20 million won for the operating company jointly charged.

According to media reports, Representative C and the company are accused of serving sorbet containing approximately 49,960 ants—unsuitable for food production—to about 12,274 customers from April 2021 until January 7 last year. Under current Food Sanitation Act regulations, ants are not included among the 10th types of edible insects recognized as food ingredients. In Korea, only ten insect species, including grasshoppers and katydids, are permitted for use as food ingredients.

The Prosecution Service estimated that the restaurant earned approximately 120 million won in profits from selling sorbet containing ants.

However, while Representative C's side largely admitted to violating the Food Sanitation Act, they contested the prosecution's figures, arguing that the number of customers served and the quantity of ants used were exaggerated. The defense attorney stated, "We asked customers whether they wanted ants as a garnish and provided them only to those who agreed," adding, "Approximately 60% of all customers consented." They further explained that the amount was not uniformly four ants per serving but ranged from one to five ants depending on customer preference.

Additionally, they argued, "The restaurant received a Michelin star in 2019, before introducing the ant menu, and the head chef won the Michelin Young Chef Award in 2021," emphasizing that "the restaurant's success was not due to the use of ants." They also highlighted that the establishment has maintained its two Michelin stars even after discontinuing the use of ants.

It is reported that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety confirmed through blog posts and social media platforms that the restaurant served dishes topped with ants, prompting an investigation.

The court has scheduled the verdict for 2 p.m. on September 2.

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*This content was translated by AI.