Besides, I still don't really think Shampoo and Ukyou wanted to get
Akane with exploding food --Akane was supposed to have been left in
her room when Ranma dashed out to get the Nannichuan water, right? I
figure they were simply trying to (desperately) stop the wedding
altogether, not kill Akane.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Except, of course, for the fact that they specifically say (in the manga,
that is) that they were aiming for Akane.  Perhaps they meant merely to
injure her and not kill her.  However, I think the manga makes it clear that
Shampoo and Ukyou meant to do more than merely break up the
wedding.