Japan's nuclear crisis is also causing concerns in China. Shoppers have spurred a run on salt in many cities, with the false belief that it can guard against radiation exposure.

The government is taking measures to guarantee sufficient supply and to stabilize the market.

It also dismissed the nuclear rumors, saying the nuclear fallout is unlikely to reach the country, and that salt does not help to ward off radiation poisoning.

Worried shoppers rushed to stores and supermarkets in the country for salt, with the belief that it may protect them from potential nuclear radiation spreading from Japan.

Many rushed to hoard as much iodized salt as possible. This trend has led to grocery store shelves being ransacked over the past several days.

"I went looking for salt in the supermarket, stores and street markets, and it's all sold out."

It all stems from the rumor that iodized salt could help ward off radiation poisoning spreading from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Consumers also worried that the nuclear plumes might spread to China by air and sea, contaminating food sources, including salt taken from the sea.

The wave of panic buying spread quickly across the country, driving up salt prices by five to ten fold in some cities.

Even regions rich in salt production, like Jiangxi Province face sudden shortages.

Local authorities have stepped in to stabilize the market. As well, state-owned salt companies have been urged to increase their supply.

Facing expanding market demand, distribution centers like this one in Beijing have taken extra measures to ensure they are well-prepared.

Wang Yun, Beijing Salt Industry Corporation, said, "Our storage reserves can guarantee a two-month supply for the Beijing market."

And measures are being taken to prevent panic buying. Health authorities and experts have begun informing the public that the rumor of salt's protection against radiation is "totally unfounded". The public is being urged to be more rational when buying salt.

vivi筆記：

nuclear crisis：核危機(jī)
radiation exposure：輻射暴露
nuclear fallout：核輻射
ward off：避開，防止
radiation poisoning：輻射中毒
iodized salt：碘鹽
panic buying：瘋狂搶購(gòu)
state-owned：國(guó)營(yíng)的，國(guó)有
distribution centers：配送中心
Beijing Salt Industry Corporation：北京鹽業(yè)總公司
totally unfounded：毫無(wú)根據(jù)

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