Helps ensure survival in a sweatshop (4)

I believe the answer is:

eats

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'helps ensure survival' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'in a sweatshop' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'EATS' is hidden within 'sweatshop'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eats that I've seen before include "Victuals" , "Common grub" , "Is not any faster" , "Takes meals" , "Sate (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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