The Hindu : International : A soup for the record in Venezuela

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Monday, Sep 17, 2007
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International

A soup for the record in Venezuela

— Photo: AP

Final touches: Workers stir the “Bolivarian stew” in Caracas on Saturday.

CARACAS: Venezuelan officials claimed a world record on Saturday for the world’s largest pot of soup, a giant cauldron of stew prepared by President Hugo Chavez’s government.

The stainless steel cooking pot, contained about 15,000 litres of “sancocho” stew, Food Minister Rafael Oropeza said.

That would dwarf the current record-holder listed on the Guinness World Records website, a pot of 5,350 litres of soup prepared in Durango, Mexico, in July.

Mr. Oropeza called it “Bolivarian stew” — a play on the name of Mr. Chavez’s socialist movement, named in honour of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar. He said it was enough to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people.

Workers stood on raised platforms stirring the soup with poles, and then dished out servings to a crowd of at a state-run market.

It contained 3,000 kg of chicken, 2,000 kg of beef, plus tons of legumes and vegetables.

Mr. Oropeza said the government is solving supply problems that have made it difficult for Venezuelans to find staples like milk and eggs in recent months.

He said the state-run market had ample reserves of all products.

With price controls in place, rising demand has outstripped domestic production of some foods, prompting an increase in imports. Mr. Oropeza said the only product that remains in short supply is milk, a situation he blamed on a “world problem” of unusual cold snaps and dry spells hurting milk production. As for the soup, he introduced a representative of Guinness World Records who he said was on hand to certify the record.

The 20,490-litre pot was about three-quarters full. “There’s plenty for second helpings,” Mr. Oropeza said. — AP

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