GWR: Why we awarded Hilda Baci 93-hour cooking record instead of 100

The Guinness World Record (GWR) says it awarded Hilda Baci a 93-hour cooking achievement because she was found to have mistakenly taken extra minutes in one of her breaks.

Baci recently pulled off a 100-hour attempt to set a world record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

The Nigerian chef challenged the record of 87 hours 45 minutes previously set by Lata Tondon, an Indian, in 2019.

Baci, after days of vetting by GWR, was certified to have instead set a 93-hour record.

Explaining the seven-hour shortage, GWR said Baci mistakenly took extra minutes in one of her breaks.

It said she was permitted only a five-minute rest for every continuous hour of activity but spilled over on one occasion.

“Hilda attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt,” the GWR stated.

“As with all ‘longest marathon’ records, the participant is permitted a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity.

“These rest breaks can be accumulated if not taken. They were the only times Hilda could use the bathroom or sleep during the attempt.”

Hilda Baci began her cooking marathon on May 11 and continued through to May 15.

She cooked over 100 pots of food during her four-day kitchen stint.

The chef said each pot of food she cooked was big enough to serve 30 to 35 people.

Several high-profile Nigerian figures visited Baci to support her during her record attempt.

They include former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor.

Baci is a graduate of Madonna University in Nigeria where she studied Sociology.

After her undergraduate degree, Hilda decided to embark on her culinary career.

She hosted the TV show ‘Dine on a Budget’ in 2020, before winning the Jollof Face-off competition in 2021.