Japan nuclear fears prompt panic-buying around world

[WestVirginiaRebel]

UK Telegraph:

Russia saw a run on red wine and seaweed; in China people were buying massive amounts of salt, and chemists as far away as Bulgaria reported shortages of iodine tablets.

No matter how many scientists were wheeled out to reassure people that radiation levels outside Japan would not pose a threat to health, widespread distrust of official advice meant thousands placed more faith in rumours and old wives’ tales.

In China, the government called for calm after shoppers bought up huge quantities of salt in the mistaken belief that it contains enough iodine to block radiation.

Potassium iodide tablets, which prevent the body from absorbing radiation, have been handed out in Japan to those living near the stricken Fukushima power plant, and in China iodine is added to salt to help prevent iodine deficiency disorders.

The mere mention of the word iodine was enough to prompt panic-buying of salt amid fears that a change in the wind direction could blow a radioactive cloud across China from its near neighbour.

“We are entirely sold out of salt, and shoppers are now buying salt substitutes such as soy sauce, even though there is no connection,” said an exasperated supermarket worker in Shanghai.

China’s Ministry of Health said an adult would need to swallow 3kg (6.6lbs) of salt at one sitting to prevent radiation poisoning, and the country's largest salt maker, China National Salt Industry Corp., issued a statement saying it had ample reserves and that "panic-buying and hoarding is unnecessary”.
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Human nature and MSM media hype point the way towards panic profiteering...