NSF International is an independent global organization that develops standards, analyzes and certifies products for the water, food, health, sciences, and consumer product industries, generally with the goal of to minimizing adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, its mission is to protect and improve human health the world over. As an independent and accredited organization, it evaluates, audits and certifies products and systems, and provides training and risk management.
Their stated goal is:
NSF International is dedicated to being the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions while serving the interests of all stakeholders, namely the public, the business community and government agencies.
The organization certifies food equipment, kitchen products, plumbing, and organic products, as well as food and sports supplements, beverages and bottled water, specialty foods, private label products, water treatment chemicals and filters, swimming pools and spas, building materials, interior furnishings, biosafety cabinets, spare auto parts, and more. It’s a large, and diverse organization with over 2700 employees.
NSF scientists analyze and certify products — including water filters — in state-of-the-art laboratories authorized by ISO/IEC 17025 in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia. Product certification may also include formulation and toxicology reviews, on-site process, and facility inspections, as well as periodic inspections and analyses. Products and facilities that meet these stringent ongoing requirements are permitted to use the NSF mark as a symbol of compliance.
It also provides a wide range of analytical and technical services that can be customized to meet the needs of any research or conformity assessment project. Its project teams are experts in developing the most efficient and reliable solutions.
NSF certification assures suppliers, retailers, regulators and consumers that an independent organization has reviewed the manufacturing process of a product and determined that the product meets specific safety, quality, and sustainability or performance standards. We evaluate every aspect of product development, from product evaluation and analysis of extensive materials to plant inspections and audits.
NSF conducts periodic, unannounced product inspections and analyses to verify that the product continues to meet applicable standards.
NSF Water Filters
When you are purchasing a water filter, you want to make sure it’s NSF-certified. This is something you can usually use as a search criteria, but if not, the product will always note that it is certified. At the very least you are going to want to see NSF 53 certification for safety and NSF 42 for taste.