28/08/2023
Why are Chinese panic buying salt? π
π¨π³On Thursday, Japan initiated the discharge of Fukushima water into the Pacific Ocean. Chinese consumers, in turn, stayed away from sea food stalls and rushed to stock up on salt. Itβs estimated that 6.73 million orders for salt were placed on JD since Aug 22, according to Jiemian. π So, why salt?
βοΈ Salt, in fact, was also a hot commodity in China in 2011 following the initial Fukushima nuclear disaster. Aside from the concerns about the potential contamination of sea salt, there is also widespread belief in China that iodised salt can help protect against radiation poisoning.
βοΈ Many other Japanese products are impacted β from seafood, to furniture and cosmetics.
βοΈ Chinese consumers stayed away from sea food markets starting Thursday, and itβs not only Japanese seafood, but seafood in general.
βοΈ Japanese cosmetics, clothings, furniture and other brands have also felt the shift in consumer sentiment already β and this will likely only intensi