Organization:National Sanitation Foundation

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National Sanitation Foundation
Blue circle with letters NSF
NSF Certification Mark
NSF International headquarters in Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan
AbbreviationNSF
Formation1944 (1944)
TypeTesting, inspection, certification, training, and consulting
Legal statusNot-for-profit
PurposeImprove and protect human health worldwide.
HeadquartersAnn Arbor Charter Township, Michigan, United States
Pedro Sancha
Staff
1,200 (2011)
Websitensf.org

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)[1] is a public health nonprofit organization[2] headquartered in Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan, United States.[3] It tests and certifies foods, water, and consumer products.[2] It also facilitates the development of standards for these products,[2] labeling products it has certified to meet these standards with the NSF mark.[4]

NSF is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada.[5]

History

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) was founded in 1944 by the University of Michigan School of Public Health, in an attempt to standardize requirements around sanitation and food safety.[2] The first standards developed by the NSF set sanitation requirements on soda fountain and luncheonette equipment.[2][clarification needed]

Acquisitions

In October 2002, NSF acquired FreshCheck, a food microbiological and sanitation audit company.[6]

In March 2004, NSF acquired Quality Assurance International.[7]

In January 2013, NSF acquired INASSA Group, a Lima, Peru-based company in the industry of quality control, analytical testing, and inspection for seafood.[8]

In October 2025, NSF acquired Cambium Analytica, an analytical testing and development company in the food, beverage, and diet supplement industries.[9][10]

Certification

NSF-certified stamped x50CrMov15 stainless steel chef's knife with TPE grip

The NSF certifies food equipment, including food preparation and dispensing equipment, ice makers, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashing sinks, vending machines, mobile food carts, and service counters.[11] These certifications are widely recognized internationally.[11]

NSF's Food division also certifies the gluten-freeness and other similar characteristics of products, as well as certifying bottled water and packaged ice.[12]

The NSF also certifies dietary supplements through a standard it facilitated the development of adopted by ANSI (NSF/American National Standards Institute Standard 173), testing for safe levels of contaminants and that the ingredients on supplements match their labels.[2] As of 2002 it competed in this with the United States Pharmacopeia certification mark.[13]

The NSF also develops standards for and certifies water quality.[14] As of 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on drinking water contaminants based on standards set by the NSF.[15]

The NSF Consumer Products Division tests and certifies consumer products and appliances used in and around the home.[16][17]

Laboratories

NSF maintains laboratories in North America,[18] South America,[19] Europe[18] and China.[18] NSF's laboratories are accredited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.[18] NSF laboratories are ISO 17025 certified (testing and calibration).[18]

The chairman of the Board of Directors, is the retired Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President of the McDonald's Corporation.[20] And since March 2022, the President and chief executive officer is Pedro Sancha, formerly of Ecolab and Shell.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Who Is NSF?" (in en). https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/who-is-nsf-international. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Travis, John; Lattimore, Lisa Glymph; Harvey, Michael; Frey, Thomas (2019-01-01), "Chapter 11 - NSF International's role in the dietary supplements and nutraceuticals industries", in Bagchi, Debasis, Nutraceutical and Functional Food Regulations in the United States and around the World (Third Edition), Academic Press, pp. 147–158, ISBN 978-0-12-816467-9, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128164679000113, retrieved 2024-11-21 . Written by employees of the National Sanitation Foundation.
  3. ↑ "NSF - World Headquarters" (in en). https://www.nsf.org/locations/north-america/nsf-international-world-headquarters. 
  4. ↑ "NSF Mark". NSF International. https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf/nsf-mark. 
  5. ↑ "NSF International". 2014-07-08. https://www.scc.ca/en/accreditation/sdo-accreditation/nsf-international. 
  6. ↑ "NSF International Acquires FreshCheck" (in en). 2002-10-17. https://www.wwdmag.com/home/news/10906763/nsf-international-acquires-freshcheck. 
  7. ↑ "NSF International Acquires Quality Assurance International" (in en). 2004-03-04. https://progressivegrocer.com/nsf-international-acquires-quality-assurance-international. 
  8. ↑ "NSF International Acquires the INASSA Group LLC, a Peruvian Leader in Analytical Testing, Certification, Inspection and Training for the Seafood / Fishing, Food and Pharmaceutical / Medical Industries". https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/contractors/clinical-it-systems/nsf-health-science/pressreleases/pressnsf-international-acquires-inassa-group-llc-peruvian-leader-analytical-testing-certification-inspection-and-training-for-the-seafood-fishing-food-and-pharmaceutical-medical-industries/. 
  9. ↑ "NSF Acquires Cambium Analytica" (in en). 8 October 2025. https://www.food-safety.com/articles/10769-nsf-acquires-cambium-analytica. 
  10. ↑ "NSF Acquires Cambium Analytica | Food Engineering" (in en). https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103307-nsf-acquires-cambium-analytica. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bole, Dhruv Kishore. "Understanding NSF Certification and How it Can Benefit Food Equipment Manufacturers | Food Safety" (in en). https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7439-understanding-nsf-certification-and-how-it-can-benefit-food-equipment-manufacturers. 
  12. ↑ International, NSF. "NSF's Food Services". https://www.nsf.org/testing/food/food-beverage-product-certification. 
  13. ↑ Packer-Tursman, Judy (18 November 2002). "Certified, To a Point". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/wellness/2002/11/19/certified-to-a-point/bdaf1786-1e99-4645-813d-ece62ad9c280/. 
  14. ↑ United States General Accounting Office (1991) (in en). Drinking Water: Inadequate Regulation of Home Treatment Units Leaves Consumers at Risk : Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives. United States General Accounting Office. https://books.google.com/books?id=4cYsAAAAIAAJ. 
  15. ↑ Ajasa, Amudalat (20 November 2024). "This substitute for lead pipes could carry its own risks". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/11/20/lead-pipe-plastic-pvc-replacements-risks/. 
  16. ↑ "NSF International Launches New NSF Home Product Certification Program". Grocery Headquarters. http://www.groceryheadquarters.com/2011/11/nsf-international-launches-new-nsf-home-product-certification-program/. Retrieved 25 February 2013. 
  17. ↑ "NSF Consumer Product Safety Division". NSF International. http://www.nsf.org/business/home_products/index.asp?program=HomePro. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 "NSF Laboratories". NSF International. http://www.nsf.org/business/about_NSF/laboratories.asp. 
  19. ↑ "NSF International Acquires the INASSA Group". Nutraceuticals World. http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_industry-news/2013-01-29/nsf-international-acquires-the-inassa-group/. Retrieved 22 February 2013. 
  20. ↑ https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf/board-directors NSF Board of Directors, retrieved February 12, 2025
  21. ↑ "Pedro Sancha" (in en). https://www.nsf.org/experts/pedro-sancha. 



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