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Fewer food and drug inspections will be done at the Food and Drug Administration because of layoffs to support staff
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That's according to a couple of top officials. Around 170 employees were let go from the FDA's Office of Inspections and Investigation to unnamed federal officials, told CBS News
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One official says the inspections and investigations office must now work with the FDA's drug, device, and food centers to determine their workload for the rest of the year
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Another official says the agency will need to cut back on routine surveillance inspections for more pressing needs
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such as inspections of companies the agency alerted to security risks or follow-up visits to make sure drug manufacturers and food producers address prior violations
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The Department of Health and Human Services had said layoffs ordered by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., involving thousands of employees at the department would not impact FDA inspectors