Salt panic subsides

After stocking up on and hoarding salt for a few days last week amid panic over radiation contamination from Japan, some of China’s shoppers are starting to want their money back, state media reports.

China Radio International said that as of the weekend, salt hoarders had begun trying to return their extra salt to stores, seeking refunds once the government reassured them that a salt crisis wasn’t in the works. Still, many shelves remained empty of salt and fears lingered not only about getting enough iodine to ward off radiation, but over the health of ocean salts should the sea that separates Japan from China become contaminated with nuclear fallout.