Venezuela claims record for huge pot of soup

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

The hulking stainless steel cooking pot, set up outdoors in downtown Caracas, contained about 3,960 gallons of “sancocho” stew, Food Minister Rafael Oropeza said. That would dwarf the current record-holder listed on the Guinness World Records Web site, 1,413 gallons of soup prepared in Durango, Mexico, in July.

Oropeza 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 at a state-run market.

It contained 6,600 pounds of chicken, 4,400 pounds of beef and tons of vegetables.

The 5,413-gallon pot was about three-quarters full.

“We didn’t add more for security reasons,” Oropeza said.