In the French city of Suresnes, located in a western suburb of Paris, an 18-member team of bakers set a new Guinness World Record on Sunday by creating a 143.53-meter-long (461-foot-long) baguette. The team surpassed the previous record by more than 10 meters, reclaiming the title for France from bakers in Como, Italy, who had held it for the past five years. A Guinness World Records judge was present to confirm the record during an event for the French Confederation of Bakers and Pastry Chefs.

Confederation President, Dominique Anract, emphasized the spirit and sportsmanship required to achieve a record for the longest handcrafted baguette. He highlighted the importance of bread as an engine of performance and a vital part of the French gastronomic heritage. Guinness rules state that the baguette must be at least 5 centimeters thick throughout, with the standard baguette being approximately 60 centimeters long and weighing around 250 grams. It must be made only from wheat flour, water, salt, and yeast.

Participating bakers began kneading the 152-kilogram (335-pound) baguette, made with 90 kilos of flour, 60 liters of water, 1.2 kilos of salt, and 1.2 kilos of yeast, at 3 a.m. The dough was baked in a specially constructed wheeled tent oven. Suresnes Mayor, Guillaume Boudy, expressed pride in hosting the record for the longest baguette in the world and promoting a national symbol of French gastronomy. He commended the bakers from Suresnes for their participation, maintaining the tradition of sharing essential to the conviviality of the city.

After Guinness officials confirmed the record, part of the baguette was distributed to interested onlookers, while the rest was given to the homeless. The achievement not only celebrated the baking prowess of the team but also showcased the cultural significance of the French baguette.