Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the full form of the acronym GRAS, which is a key term in food safety and regulations, particularly in the United States under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The acronym GRAS stands for "Generally Recognized As Safe."
- This is a designation given by the FDA to food additives that experts consider safe for their intended use.
- For a substance to be GRAS, there must be a consensus among qualified experts that the substance is safe. This consensus can be based on a long history of common use in food before 1958 or on extensive scientific procedures and evidence.
- Substances with GRAS status are exempt from the more rigorous pre-market approval process that new food additives must undergo.
Step 3: Analyzing the Options:
- (A) "Generally Recognized As Safe" is the correct and official definition.
- (B), (C), and (D) are incorrect expansions and do not represent the meaning of GRAS in a regulatory context.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Based on the official definition used in food safety regulations, GRAS stands for Generally Recognized As Safe.