ALBANY – In a move New York state officials say will save almost $1 million, the state has eliminated kosher food inspectors from its budget, according to Mid-Hudson News. To fill the void, the 85 food-safety inspectors around New York will be trained in kosher registry information provided by the rabbi in charge of the now defunct program.

Rabbi Luzer Weiss will be retained to educate the safety inspectors. He said given the state’s fiscal condition, “it is incumbent upon us to make our programs operate more efficiently and effectively.” He added he is confident the inspectors will be able to maintain “the same or better level of protection with this expanded force of inspectors.”