Winner Gino and Stuart Manning are facing charges of animal cruelty after cooking and eating a rat in the show.
The RSPCA in New South Wales, Australia, objected saying it was "not acceptable" that a rat had been killed by the pair as part of a performance.
Court attendance notices have been issued for 3 February 2010.
ITV has apologised today and said it would tighten up its procedures.
"Having sought health and safety advice, the go-ahead was given purely on this basis... the production was unaware that killing a rat could be an offence." "ITV apologises for this error, and to the celebrities concerned, and will put in place procedures for next year's series to ensure that this cannot happen again."
