CARACAS, Venezuela &#8212 Venezuelan officials claimed a world record Saturday for making the 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 stew, Food Minister Rafael Oropeza said.

Oropeza called it “Bolivarian stew” – a play on the name of Chavez’s socialist movement, named in honor 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. It contained 6,600 pounds of chicken, 4,400 pounds of beef and tons of vegetables.

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.

As for the soup, he introduced a representative of Guinness World Records.

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