NSF 537 PFAS-Free Certification: What the New Label Means

“PFAS-free” shows up on more packaging every month, and until recently there was no common yardstick behind it. One brand might mean “we didn’t add PFAS on purpose.” Another might mean “we tested and found nothing.” A third might mean nothing at all.

NSF, the independent public health organization best known for certifying water filters and commercial kitchen equipment, stepped into that gap with NSF 537, a certification built specifically for PFAS-free food equipment materials and food-grade compounds. It is aimed at manufacturers, not shoppers, but it touches the food you eat, so it is worth understanding.

For background on why these chemicals matter, see our guides to PFAS in non-stick cookware and how PFAS rules differ between the EU and the US.

What NSF 537 actually certifies

NSF 537 covers two groups of products that most of us never see but that touch our food every day:

• Nonfood compounds, such as food-grade lubricants, cleaners and sanitizers used in food processing plants. To qualify, a product must already be registered with NSF as a nonfood compound or certified to ISO 21469, the standard for lubricants with incidental food contact.
• Food equipment materials, such as the O-rings, seals and other components inside commercial food equipment. These must already be certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 51 for food equipment materials.

In other words, NSF 537 is an add-on. A product has to clear NSF’s existing food safety bar first, and then prove it is PFAS-free on top of that.

How NSF defines “PFAS-free”

This is the part that makes the certification useful. According to NSF’s announcement, a certified product must have:

1. No intentionally added PFAS. A formulation review confirms PFAS were not put in on purpose.
2. No PFAS additives, such as polymer processing aids, which can sneak fluorochemicals into a product even when the main ingredients are clean.
3. No post-consumer recycled material, since recycled inputs can carry PFAS from their previous life.
4. Total organic fluorine below 50 parts per million. This is a lab test, not a paperwork exercise.

Manufacturers also attest that their facilities minimize cross-contamination.

That 50 ppm fluorine limit is stricter than some existing rules. California’s food packaging law (AB 1200), for example, treats PFAS as “regulated” at 100 ppm total organic fluorine. NSF says its limit is based on existing state regulatory limits.

Testing doesn’t stop after approval

A one-time test can go stale fast if a supplier quietly changes an ingredient. NSF 537 handles that with ongoing checks laid out on its certification page:

• A total fluorine test first, with a more specific total organic fluorine test if the first result comes in above the limit
• An annual attestation from the manufacturer that the formulation has not changed
• An annual sample for retesting

We like that last point a lot. Yearly retesting is what separates a real certification from a one-and-done badge.

Who got certified first

NSF awarded the first NSF 537 certification in June 2025 to ROCOL, a maker of food-grade lubricants, for its FOODLUBE line. Sam Cole, NSF’s Director of Food Contact Evaluation, called the program “a significant leap forward in consumer safety and transparency.” NSF formally announced the certification to the wider industry in September 2025.

Why this matters to families

You will probably never buy a tub of food-grade gear lubricant. But the factories that make your bread, yogurt and frozen vegetables use them every day, along with gaskets, tubing and sanitizers that can contain PFAS. NSF says some PFAS are linked to liver disease, certain cancers and developmental delays in children, and it points to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which notes that people are most likely exposed through contaminated water or food.

Every PFAS source removed upstream is one less source landing on your plate. A credible certification also gives food companies an easy way to choose cleaner materials, and gives you something concrete to ask brands about.

How to look up NSF 537 certified products

Certified products carry the official NSF mark. You can also check the listings yourself:

• Nonfood compounds (lubricants, cleaners) are listed in the NSF White Book.
• Food equipment materials are listed in NSF’s Certified Food Equipment listing.

If a brand claims NSF 537 certification, it should show up in one of those places.

What you can do at home

NSF 537 works at the factory level. In your own kitchen, the simplest moves are still the classics: cook on uncoated surfaces and store food in glass.

A Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is about as low-tech as cookware gets: bare iron seasoned with oil, and it’s affordable and lasts for decades. Lodge lists it as PFAS-free.

For leftovers, a set like the Pyrex Simply Store 9-Pack Glass Food Storage Set keeps food in glass rather than coated or plastic containers (the lids are plastic, so let food cool before covering it and keep the lids out of the microwave).

More ideas live in our guides to PFAS-free cookware and PFAS-free food storage bags, and in the PFAS Free Life Database.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NSF 537?

NSF 537 is a certification guideline from NSF for PFAS-free nonfood compounds (like food-grade lubricants and cleaners) and food equipment materials (like O-rings and seals). Certified products contain no intentionally added PFAS and test below 50 ppm total organic fluorine, with annual retesting.

Can I buy NSF 537 certified products as a consumer?

Mostly no. NSF 537 targets products used in food processing and commercial food equipment. Its benefit to consumers is indirect: it helps food manufacturers keep PFAS out of the equipment and chemicals that touch your food.

How is NSF 537 different from a brand saying “PFAS-free”?

A brand claim is self-reported. NSF 537 requires a formulation review, lab testing for total fluorine, a ban on PFAS additives and recycled inputs, and yearly retesting by an independent organization.

Where can I check whether a product is NSF 537 certified?

Look in the NSF White Book for nonfood compounds, or in NSF’s Certified Food Equipment listing for equipment materials. Certified products may also carry the NSF certification mark.

*Sources: NSF: NSF Introduces PFAS-Free Certification

NSF 537 Certification Overview

NSF: First PFAS-Free Certification Awarded to ROCOL

Arnold & Porter: California PFAS Laws*