China: Shoppers panic buy salt after Japan releases water from Fukushima

China’s biggest salt producer urged people against panic buying after Japan began discharging treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant on Thursday, despite firm opposition from Beijing. The state-run National Salt Industry Group, the world’s biggest common salt producer, said in a statement issued hours later that it was ramping up supplies as people in some parts of China had rushed to stock up. Salt shelves were emptied in supermarkets and sold out in online sales platforms in some places, including Beijing and Shanghai. China has opposed Japan’s action, saying the Japanese government had not proved that the water discharged would be safe and has banned the import of all aquatic products from Japan. “We are working overtime to produce, distribute and making all efforts to guarantee market supply,“ the National Salt Industry Group said in its statement. “Please purchase rationally and do not panic buy blindly,“ it said. #china #japan #salt #fukushima Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer: just £1 for 3 months. Start your free trial now: Get the latest headlines: and are websites of The Telegraph, the UK’s best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.