NSF International has been ensuring safe design and cleaning of appliances/tools used in commercial kitchens for almost 70 years. In response to increasing consumer concerns about product quality and safety, in 2012 NSF created a new program which is based on but separate from NSF’s commercial food equipment program and includes testing of residential kitchen items and other home products.
Through an independent research survey, NSF discovered that:
To help consumers who are concerned about these issues, NSF International developed the NSF Home Product Certification Program™. This testing and certification program helps give consumers peace of mind as our experts test the quality, durability and cleanability of many home products. Click the seal to the right to see our testing criteria for various home products.
The program covers kitchen products and housewares such as food storage containers, cookware and bakeware as well as small appliances like coffee makers, slow cookers and blenders. The program also includes kitchen gadgets, tableware, flatware and cutlery, sport bottles, personal beverage containers and many others.
Because of NSF’s role in evaluating the cleanability of common kitchen tools and appliances under this program, its scientists wondered whether consumers are truly following manufacturer cleaning instructions for these products. In 2013, NSF's microbiology team analyzed several kitchen appliances and tools in several volunteer homes for the presence of foodborne pathogens. Learn more about the results of this study, which revealed that kitchen items commonly used to store and prepare food can harbor microorganisms known to cause foodborne illness if not properly cleaned.
NSF conducts extensive product assessments to verify the durability, design and safety of materials used to manufacture the product against established criteria for each product type. The certification process also includes a packaging label review and testing to substantiate any performance and marketing claims. We also conduct an annual audit of the manufacturing facility to make sure the manufacturing process produces compliant products over time. Finally, all certified products must come with use and care instructions that explain proper assembly, usage and cleaning of the product.
Products certified under this program can show the NSF Certified for Home Use mark on the product or the packaging and are included in NSF’s online listings database so you can easily find certified products.
Learn more about NSF’s certification programs for products intended for home use by selecting any of the items below:
NSF also certifies other home appliances to separate criteria:
