More than you can chew: Swetha Sivakumar explores extreme food records

What makes someone grow the biggest pumpkin or bake the largest loaf in the world? Exactly how risky are those eating competitions? Take a look.

There was a time when I would hear about the world’s largest pumpkin or watch a hot-dog-eating contest, and wonder what motivated people to pursue such extreme feats.

I guess it takes all sorts, I would think to myself. With a little digging, though, I have discovered that there is reason, of a kind, behind many such endeavours: a search for recognition, a sense of pride in one’s work, a wish to reach out to the community (and what better