Venezuelan cooks set world record with nearly 400-foot-long Christmas hallaca

Women cheer after preparing the worldâs largest hallaca, which features pork, beef, chicken, olives and raisins folded into corn dough and wrapped in a banana leaf, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. With some help from the Ministry of Nutrition, the South American country set a record for the worldâs biggest hallaca, a local take on the tamale traditionally eaten in December. The Guinness book of world records certified the nearly 400-foot creation as the worldâs largest. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Officials weigh the worldâs largest Pan de JamÃ³n in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. Hundreds of cooks and spectators were on hand for the creation of the Pan de JamÃ³n, a Christmas specialty in which ham is rolled in sweet bread, as well as the worldâs biggest hallaca, a local take on the tamale traditionally eaten in December. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuelans may be struggling with shortages of basic food items, but Christmas treats were in abundant supply Saturday.

With some help from the Ministry of Nutrition, some cooks set a record for making the world's biggest hallaca — Venezuela's version of the tamale that is traditionally eaten in December.

Hundreds of spectators were on hand for the creation of the huge hallaca, which features pork, beef, chicken, olives and raisins folded into corn dough and wrapped in a banana leaf. The Guinness Book of World Records certified the nearly 400-foot-long creation as the world's largest.

The event also saw the rollout of the world's largest pan de jamon. That's another Christmas specialty in which ham is rolled in sweet bread.