Safety Organization Rolls Out PFAS-Free Certification

NSF 537 ensures select products are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—aka ‘forever chemicals.’

March 25, 2025

Professional chef cooking in the kitchen restaurant at the hotel, preparing dinner. A cook in an apron makes a salad of vegetables and pizza.

With PFAS-free certification of select products, manufacturers and operators can demonstrate their commitment to human and planet health.

Manufacturers of food equipment materials, nonfood compounds and chemicals can now certify their products as PFAS-free under the NSF’s newest guideline.

NSF Certification Guideline 537: PFAS-Free Products for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials was publicly announced on March 25.

“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,” says 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 group’s testing will include a technical review of product ingredients, plus annual retesting to ensure “minimal to no detected total organic fluorine levels.”

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 learn more about PFAS and NSF 537, visit NSF’s site here.