Do we need to stock up on salt?, Japan releases nuclear wastewater
August 24th
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant releases contaminated water into the sea
Affected by this, salt prices in South Korea have skyrocketed
The people "hoard salt throughout the country"
And in China
There are also many regions experiencing a phenomenon of rushing to purchase edible salt
Some regions are experiencing a "salt rush"
According to Yangzhou News Broadcasting, in the morning of that day, reporters saw a significant increase in the number of citizens purchasing salt at supermarkets such as RT Mart in Yangzhou.
Many citizens who purchase salt say that although they know that the shelf life of salt is only 3 years, they follow the trend and hoard some when they see others buying it.
Supermarket salespeople told reporters that because most of the salt sold in the Yangzhou market is well salt, and most of the salt consumed by Chinese people is also well salt, there is no need for citizens to panic excessively, let alone "hoard salt".
According to Fuzhou News Network, some Yonghui stores in Fuzhou are currently experiencing a rush to purchase salt, with Pupu and Yonghui Life Salt selling out of stock.
In this regard, the Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce reminds that it will continue to make every effort to ensure supply and stable prices, ensure sufficient supply of edible salt, and encourage citizens to purchase rationally according to their needs, without believing or spreading rumors.
Some online stores display a shortage of edible salt
On the noon of August 24th, the reporter found that the low sodium salt and iodine free salt on multiple fresh e-commerce platforms were showing as "out of stock" and "in replenishment".
"A low sodium salt from Hema was still in stock a minute ago, but when it slipped again, it showed that it was out of stock," said a consumer.
According to reports, sea salt currently holds over one-third of the share in the Guangdong salt market. According to the person in charge of Guangdong Salt Industry Group, currently, the provincial and municipal governments have 108000 tons of salt reserves and corporate social responsibility reserves, covering 100% of the administrative regions of all cities and counties in the province. This can quickly and timely respond, ensuring that Guangdong people have sufficient supply of salt, and calling on citizens not to panic or imitate others in hoarding salt.
Expert: There's no need to hoard salt
According to relevant reports, the demand for sea salt in South Korea has also surged recently, with some consumers and retailers starting to stockpile sea salt. The South Korean government is investing reserve sea salt in the market to cope with fluctuations in the sea salt market.
So, is it necessary for Chinese consumers to hoard salt?
Wang Xiaoqing, President of the China Salt Industry Association, stated that it is not recommended to follow the practice of South Korean people hoarding salt. The edible salt produced in China uses raw materials such as sea salt, well salt, and lake salt, with a composition ratio of 22%, 61%, and 17%, respectively. Generally speaking, in terms of import and export, China imports more and exports less, and the imported raw material salt is mainly used in industry as chemical raw materials. The production of edible salt in China can meet the demand.
Public data shows that China has the world's largest raw salt production capacity and output, with salt production divided into sea salt production areas, well salt production areas, and lake salt production areas. In 2022, China's raw salt production capacity reached 115.85 million tons, with a production volume of 83.9 million tons; In 2022, the apparent consumption of raw salt in China reached 58.3 million tons, with a consumption structure of 51.86% for caustic soda, 36.85% for soda ash, and 11.29% for others; Exported 713000 tons of raw salt and imported 9.425 million tons. About 70% of the raw salt consumption is used for salt chemical industry, while the rest is used for food and other purposes.
Professor Zhang Jinliang from the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences stated in an interview that if consumers are very concerned about the radioactive emissions of nuclear wastewater, they need to carefully consider and avoid purchasing sea salt as much as possible; In addition, the management department should strengthen radioactive monitoring of edible salt and establish radioactive limits for edible salt.
