Posted: January 13th, 2009 - 1:43pm by Doug Powell

In May 2008, the Baltimore Health Department proposed the Clean Crab award, the image of a meticulous crab, hung perhaps at a restaurant's threshold, to alert people to Baltimore's cleanest dining establishments.

Yesterday, health types decided to cleanse themselves of crabs.

Instead, the Baltimore Examiner reports, a prize ribbon decal will recognize those with a solid record of sanitation for the Charm City Health Award for Excellence in Sanitation.

Olivia Farrow, assistant commissioner of the environmental health division of the Baltimore City Health Department, said,

"[The crab] is a bottom-feeder, so it's probably not a good image."