Fear of radiation, Chinese citizens buy a lot of salt

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SHANGHAI - Lately, the Chinese people hit by panic buying of salt after hearing rumors about the benefits of salt that can prevent diseases caused by nuclear radiation.

The rumors claim the benefits of iodized salt in preventingpoisoning due to exposure to radiation. As a result, almost all Chinese citizens flocked to invade a supermarket or the nearest store to buy salt as much as possible.

In Shanghai for example, a third of shops located in Maoming Road in Jing An District experiencing shortages of salt in the last two days. Though some stores have received the shipment this morning with a total of three times the number of normal supplies.The owner of a shop or supermarket could also restrict the purchase of two packs of salt for every buyer.

With so many demands are soaring high salt, some stores had to raise prices beyond the normal limit of salt. A pack of salt for1.8RMB for example, valued by the owner of the shop for 20 RMB. In fact, according to the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, at least 12 cases of illegal and fraudulent pricing of salt accumulation has occurred within two days.

Nevertheless, as quoted by the Shanghai Daily, the National Development and Reform Commission expressed the panicpeople have started to subside and the price of salt is alsostabilized by an increase in the supply of salt.

It is also recognized Mao Qingguo, General Manager of saltproducers no. 1 in China, China National Salt Industry Corp (ChinaSalt). He revealed to the Shanghai Daily newspaper, in most areas of China, the residents are not in a hurry to buy and stockpile salt athome.

Earlier, on Thursday, March 16, China Salt alone has sold 370,000 tons of salt, which is usually sold within 24 days. This shows the level of panic the people against the effects of radiation arerumored to be spreading in most parts of China.