I spoke yesterday for a couple of hours with a bunch of would-be public health students on the Kansas State campus for an 8-week program.

I told them it was a tough job.

Foodborne illness, dog bites, pool patrol. And inspectors are sometimes at the whim of local politicians who may not like the salad bar shields and order a crackdown. Or say, leave my buddy the restaurant owner alone

So it’s nice to see some recognition for public servants who go out in the world and do something.

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Director Francis E. Greene is being honored by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of its annual Civilian Honor Awards for his role in managing the environmental portion of a potential outbreak of Listeria in Connecticut and the Northeast in April 2009.

Based on a sample of sprouts that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes,
Greene was part of a collaborative effort among the FDA, his staff, the State Public Health Department and the Bridgeport, Connecticut producer to immediately recall 22 sprout products, notify all distributors, retailers, public health officials and consumers of the recall, remove products from store shelves, and identify the source of the Listeria contamination. At the time of the recall, the sprouts were being sold in small stores and three major grocery store chains across the Northeast.

“Frank’s action and collaborative efforts clearly helped to minimize the risk of illness in any number of consumers who would have eaten those tainted sprouts,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. said today. “We’re delighted that he has been chosen for this well-deserved national recognition.”