The (UK) Mail reports "Panic buying as China sees hope in salt." A little knowledge can be dangerous, and Chinese consumers have been bombarded with admonitions to consume iodized salt, so it should probably have been foreseen that those worried about radiation, "knowing" that iodine would be thyroid-protective, would stampede to buy more salt. China National Salt Industry Corp. (represented on the ICCIDD board) issued a statement that salt supplies were ample and the government warned against hoarding and promised hefty fines for price inflators.

The story below contains one inaccuracy; China uses potassium iodate to fortify salt, not potassium iodide.

"Shelves were stripped of salt in China yesterday by shoppers hoping it would help ward off radiation poisoning from Japan.

"They were under the false impression that consuming enough table salt would protect them from contamination.

"Rumours also spread that sea salt supplies would be spoiled by radiation.

"The wave of panic in Beijing, Shanghai and other parts was said to have been fuelled by text messages via mobile phones.

"Prices of salt jumped five or ten-fold – if it could be found at all.

"In China, table salt is fortified with potassium iodide to help prevent iodine deficiency, a major cause of learning difficulties.

"Potassium iodide can help protect the thyroid gland from radiation injury, but experts say that to get the equivalent of the 130mg dose needed to protect against radiation, someone would need to consume 750 teaspoons of iodised salt every day. A tiny fraction of that salt intake would be fatal."