Chief executives responsible for price fixing should be jailed, the Food and Allied Workers Union said on Friday in a statement to mark World Food Day.

It said the day was a reminder that the world could produce enough to feed all human beings.

"But millions experience regular hunger owing to... profit-driven food production, processing, procurement and distribution," it said.

"The rolling back of the state's role in this food value chain has worsened hunger in the world."

It reiterated its call for a "national dialogue" on food security in South Africa.

The Black Sash said in a statement it expected more than two million South Africans to stand together over the next few days as part of the global Stand Up and Take Action campaign against extreme poverty and hunger.

The Sash said it was unacceptable that more than half of all South Africans still lived in poverty and continued to face "a desperate daily battle to survive".

The government should accelerate spending on social infrastructure aimed at development.

"More than ever, we need to ensure transparent and accountable governance so that we know that each tax rand is being responsibly and appropriately spent.

"We need to send a clear message to our government over the next three days ? we need jobs not jets."

World Food Day has been observed on 16 October since 1979.