A spoonful of salt helps the radiation go down

We’re out of salt.  Not the McLains, the entire country!  Salt is selling for over 5 times the normal price and stores have run out in the wake of the earthquake in Japan.  There are many articles on why but for posterity’s sake, I wanted to jot down what I got out of them:

1. Salt contains iodine, which will help combat radiation exposure.
2. The radiation leaks at the nuclear plant in Fukushima will contaminate the ocean salt.
3. There is widespread panic over exactly how far the radiation will travel; we’ve been warned as far away as we are from Japan (over 1,200 miles).
4. Governmental distrust is such that no one will truly be able to convince people they shouldn’t buy in bulk.

Don’t laugh too hard, it’s providing a much needed stimulus to the salt economy.  Stock prices are actually rising for some producers.  The good news is eating out will be healthier for the next few weeks since restaurants will cut back…