An attempt to make the world’s largest serving of fried rice has left officials in one Chinese city red-faced after criticism that some of the four-tonne portion was used to feed pigs.

According to China’s state news agency some 300 cooks including local residents and foreign visitors took part in the event in the eastern Chinese city of Yangzhou, churning out 4,192 kilograms (9,241 lbs) of fried rice, the city’s signature dish.

But the organisers were heavily criticised after the food was immediately sent to a pig sty, later prompting an apology.

Guinness yesterday disqualified the attempt because they had wasted food, Xinhua reported.

Internet users slammed the event, with local media reports and video footage showing the rice being loaded into trash trucks.