NSF Launches New Certification Guideline to Ensure PFAS-Free Products for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials
Oxford, UK, March 26, 2025 – NSF, a leading global public health and safety organisation, has announced the launch of a new certification guideline, NSF Certification Guideline 537: PFAS-Free Products for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials (NSF 537). This guideline utilizes NSF’s extensive laboratory and testing capabilities to confirm that products are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS are synthetic materials that resist degradation and are often used in water or stain-resistant, nonstick, and grease-proof products such as consumer goods, food equipment, and nonfood compounds like food-safe lubricants, cleaners, and sanitizers. However, these chemicals have been linked to various health issues, including liver disease, cancer, and delayed development in children. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has reported that people are most likely exposed to PFAS through contaminated water or food.
“With growing concerns and new regulations being introduced on PFAS in our environment and food supply, NSF 537 represents a significant leap forward in consumer safety and transparency,” said Sam Cole, Director of Food Contact Evaluation at NSF. “This certification will empower forward-thinking manufacturers to clearly distinguish PFAS-free products, giving both retail and food businesses and consumers confidence and peace of mind.”
The key features of NSF Certification Guideline 537 include:
– Evidence-based: The guideline is backed by decades of specialist food industry knowledge and standards development and is based on existing limits in regulations.
– Thorough Formulation Review: Technical review of product ingredients, confirming there are no intentionally added PFAS.
– Comprehensive Testing: Ensures minimal to no detected total organic fluorine (TOF) levels with yearly retesting.
– Rigorous Disclosures: Manufacturers must attest that no PFAS additives or post-consumer recycled material are used in the product, and they must minimize cross-contamination in their manufacturing facilities.
– Certification Mark: Products certified to NSF 537 are accompanied by the relevant official NSF certification mark, signifying compliance with the guideline to retailers and consumers.
– Public Listing: Certified nonfood compounds are listed in the NSF White Book™, and certified food equipment materials are listed in NSF’s Certified Food Equipment listing.
“Certification to NSF 537 helps to reduce human exposure to these harmful chemicals while underscoring a commitment to meeting evolving regulations, consequentially opening up exporting opportunities,” Cole added. “By demanding NSF 537 certification, specifiers and buyers can further advance sustainable operations, including in food processing facilities, equipment manufacturing, and the retail, food service, and hospitality sectors.”
NSF 537 was designed by food safety specialists and is based on industry needs, in-depth food industry knowledge, and decades of standards development. To achieve certification, nonfood compound products must first be registered under NSF’s Nonfood Compounds Guidelines or certified by NSF to ISO 21469, Safety of Machinery, Lubricants with Incidental Product Contact-Hygiene Requirements. Food equipment materials must be certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 51: Food Equipment Materials to ensure that products meet minimum public health and sanitation requirements.
To learn more about NSF 537 and its benefits, visit https://pressat.co.uk/.
