Women are bearing the brunt of the food-price crisis. Because of the high cost and shortage of food, women are feeding their families nutritionally rich meals and themselves eating what is left, usually starch, according to the Pietermaritzburg Agency for Community Social Action.World Food Day is on Sunday."The affordability crisis that South Africans face is absorbed in the bodies of women. Mothers are getting sick and dying," said agency researcher Julie Smith.She said malnourished women were at risk of developing diseases such as hypertension, cancer and depression.She said 51 women from low-income communities interviewed for a survey said they could not make it through the month on the money they earned."They are struggling to put food on the table. Households prioritise transport, education, electricity, burial insurance and debt repayment before food," said Smith.Many households had to cut back on nutrient-rich foods such as meat, eggs, fish, vegetables and dairy products, she said.Smith said that, especially since November, the drought and high temperatures had driven up food prices.She said the price of foods such as maize meal, rice, flour, sugar, and cooking oil, which make up about a third of the monthly spending of many families, rose by about 25%.The agency's Mervyn Abrahams said households were not able to deal with sudden rises in food prices."If the trend continues, it could lead to social instability."The family budget for food is getting smaller but prices keep on increasing. I am worried about what the picture will look like next year."..