This one could be filed under the heading ‘Food-Too-Far-Forward’. Celebrity Chef Joseph Lidgerwood – a former contestant on the Netflix cooking show Culinary Class Wars – may have to have to spend a year in a South Korean prison. He served resto patrons ants…
The ants – certified ‘culinary grade’ – came from Thailand. And were served atop a sorbet dessert at Chef Joseph Lidgerwood’s 2-Michelin-stared Evette restaurant in Seoul, South Korea…
Not a new ‘thing’
Apparently, Lingerman had been offering the Black Ants as a sour hit atop Evett’s fermented rice palate-cleanser course since 2021. Fermented vinegar was offered as an option. And Lingerman told the court that about 60 percent of his guests chose the ants.
Curiously, no one complained about the insect garnish. The South Korean authorities only became aware of the situation after they noticed a diner’s social media post boasting about the dish.
No contest
Lingerman’s company pleaded guilty to charges it imported and served more than 49,000 culinary-grade ants from Thailand and the U.S. The maximum penalty on conviction of such offenses under South Korea’s Food Sanitation Act, using illegal food ingredients can result in up to five years in prison and/or fines up to ₩50 million ((US)$33,000). Authorities can also suspend or revoke a bus-iness’s license.
Why are ants illegal?
“South Korea only approves 10 insects for consumption and use in food, including rice grasshoppers, silkworm pupae (known as beondegi), and baekgangjam, a silkworm larva killed by a fungal infect-ion,” noted food blogger explains. “Authorities consider ants an illegal food ingredient be-cause they can contain high levels of heavy metals that may prove toxic for human consumption, in certain cases reaching up to 55 times the maximum limit.”
By contrast, the same ants are freely and legally used on food in n the U.K., Australia, and Denmark.
My take
Lingerman will have to wait until sometime next month for the court to pronounce sentence. It appears, from the information we have, that the prosecution hasn’t asked for jail time. But it has recommend-ed a fine of ₩20 million ((US)$13,703.23).
I am compelled to observe that a tiny sprinkle of possibly toxic ants on a small dish in the middle of a 12-course menu wouldn’t worry me as a resto guest. On top of the diminutive ‘dose’ involved, I’d probably only experience the any phenomenon once in my lifetime. The gala menu in question comes at a price of ₩330,000 ((US)$233.67) per person…
~ Maggie J.