Organizers of a world record attempt to make the largest ever bowl of fried rice got burned after the giant bowl was disqualified because it wasn't edible.
On Thursday, 300 chefs in the eastern Chinese city of Yangzhou made a bowl of fried rice that weighed in at nearly 9,242 pounds.
Fried Rice Scandal
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The group's goal was to break the current Guinness world record of 6,944 pounds, set Sept. 27, 2014, by the Turkey Culinary Federation in Bolu, Turkey. Although the organizers got a Guinness certificate at the unveiling, participants ended up with egg in their faces a short time later.
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It seems the dish violated Guinness rules by not being fit for human consumption, according to a statement by Sharon Yang, Guinness' marketing director in greater China.
"Following a further review of the evidence, it is now clear that over 150 kilograms of fried rice was not fit for human consumption," Yang said in a statement. "The relevant guidelines for all large food records are 'The item must be entirely edible. We will not be able to accept claims for large food items if they prove to be inedible, or if they are prepared in such a way as to make them unfit for general consumption,' and 'After the attempt, the food item must be divided and distributed or donated for general consumptions.'"
"Following a further review of the evidence, it is now clear that over 150 kilograms of fried rice was not fit for human consumption," Yang said in a statement. "The relevant guidelines for all large food records are 'The item must be entirely edible. We will not be able to accept claims for large food items if they prove to be inedible, or if they are prepared in such a way as to make them unfit for general consumption,' and 'After the attempt, the food item must be divided and distributed or donated for general consumptions.'"
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The fried rice record attempt was seasoned with controversy after witnesses posted videos of workers stepping on the rice in order to shovel the starch into a dump truck after the attempt, according to AsiaOne.com.
Viewers who saw the clips slammed the organizers for wasting food.
However, officials with the Yangzhou Cuisine Association, the event's co-organizer, said only the top layer of rice was discarded because it was not sanitary.
Organizers stress the walked-on rice was not thrown away but sent to farms to feed pigs, according to ECNS.com.
Viewers who saw the clips slammed the organizers for wasting food.
However, officials with the Yangzhou Cuisine Association, the event's co-organizer, said only the top layer of rice was discarded because it was not sanitary.
Organizers stress the walked-on rice was not thrown away but sent to farms to feed pigs, according to ECNS.com.
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CNN.com estimates the record attempt cost the city around $22,000.
An editorial from the People's Daily newspaper slammed the record attempt for wasting money as well as food.
"Who paid for the event, exactly?" the writer asked. "If it was paid for by public funds, then it was a waste of taxpayers' money. If it was sponsored by a company, it still was a huge waste of food."
An editorial from the People's Daily newspaper slammed the record attempt for wasting money as well as food.
"Who paid for the event, exactly?" the writer asked. "If it was paid for by public funds, then it was a waste of taxpayers' money. If it was sponsored by a company, it still was a huge waste of food."
A press release issued after the record attempt, but before the disqualification, said that fried rice was invented in Yangzhou and is the most popular Chinese fast food dish around the world.
