What recognition has the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSA

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently recognized the mithun as a ‘food animal,’ opening doors for its commercial use. The Mithun, also known as the Gayal (scientifically Bos frontalis), is believed to have evolved from the Indian Gaur or bison. It was first described in 1804 by Aylmer Bourke Lambert. It holds significant cultural and socio-economic importance among tribes like the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo, and Adi in Arunachal Pradesh. It is often referred to as the ‘cattle of the mountain.’ The gayal serves as the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Conservation status IUCN: Vulnerable About FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statue related to food safety and regulation in India. Founded: 5 September 2008                         Headquarters: New Delhi