PHOTOS: New Guinness World Record for pršut slicing set in Croatia

ZAGREB, 17 Oct (Hina) – A total of 285 pršut carvers set a new Guinness World Record in the Istrian town of Tinjan on Friday, by slicing pršut simultaneously at the 18th International Pršut Fair (ISAP 2026).

Guinness World Records adjudicator Joanne Brent from London announced at the fair’s opening ceremony that 285 of the 300 participants in the record attempt had successfully completed the challenge.

The participants carved ham simultaneously, surpassing the previous record of 205 people, set in Spain eight years ago in the category of “most people slicing meat”.

“I’m proud because a great deal of effort went into this, with many volunteers involved. The rules were strict, but that is how it should be,” Tinjan Mayor Goran Hrvatin said.

The fair was symbolically opened by 300 carvers slicing the first pieces of ham as part of the record attempt.

Running from Friday to Sunday, the 18th ISAP fair brings together around 40 prosciutto producers from Istria and elsewhere in Croatia, as well as Slovenia, Italy, Spain and Montenegro.

“Croatia is proud of its four protected pršut varieties: Istrian, Krk, Drniš and Dalmatian pršut, which hold protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication status. Yesterday, two more products joined the 52 already protected – Čepin cabbage and Banovina chestnut honey – while Slavonian ham is expected to follow soon,” said Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić, representing Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

He said Croatia produces around 500,000 hams a year.

Awards were also presented to the top pršut producers at the fair’s opening ceremony.