NSF Services, Certifications and Marks FAQs

NSF is an independent, global services organization dedicated to improving human and planet health for more than 80 years by developing public health standards and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services and digital solutions to the food, nutrition, water, life sciences and consumer goods industries. NSF has 40,000 clients across all continents and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Medical Device Safety. Learn more about NSF.

At NSF, our mission is to improve human and planet health. This mission is carried out by thousands of team members worldwide, including microbiologists, toxicologists, chemists, engineers, and environmental and public health professionals.

NSF was founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation. Since then, we have changed our name to NSF to better reflect our current mission to improve human and planet health.

While we’re proud of our more than 80-year heritage, as we’ve evolved, our focus has expanded from our roots in food equipment sanitation to encompass a broader focus on global human and planet health. Our name reflects this mission, which is the heart of all we do.

A certification body usually refers to an independent, third-party organization that certifies products, services, processes or systems to ensure compliance with a specific standard or regulation. NSF is a leading global certification body.

Access a current list of NSF’s accreditations here.

NSF is not connected to the National Science Foundation.

NSF provides a comprehensive range of services designed to support public health and safety across multiple industries. These services include auditing, certification, consulting, laboratory testing, training and education, information security, sustainability services, electrical safety and digital solutions. NSF operates within key sectors such as food and beverage, water systems, life sciences, nutrition and wellness, and transportation. By offering these services, NSF helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, improve operational performance and build trust with consumers around the world.

As a globally recognized organization for public health standards, NSF works hard to develop standards that serve the greater good and are impartial. NSF follows the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC) standards development processes. Standards are developed by joint committees, which are balanced stakeholder groups of public health, industry and user representatives.

The NSF Public Health Council (PHC) serves as the independent, public health ratification step at the end of the process, providing final review and acceptance. PHC membership comprises only representatives from government/regulatory agencies, academia, public health, and public service; there is no industry representation.

As another check and balance on the standards development process, the NSF Health Advisory Board (HAB) establishes maximum exposure levels for unregulated chemicals that have not yet been established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Health Canada or other authoritative health bodies. The NSF HAB includes representatives from EPA, Health Canada and the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

NSF’s formal sustainability journey began in 2023, when we committed to gathering data, setting benchmarks and identifying where we could make the biggest impact. Our sustainability strategy is focused on addressing key areas proactively using a “glocal” approach. Whether installing solar panels in Brazil or eliminating single-use plastics in Michigan, we empower teams to take ownership of sustainability while encouraging them to track and share their achievements. Read more about our latest sustainability efforts in our 2024 Annual Review and Impact Report.

NSF provides certifications across the entire food supply chain, from agriculture and processing to distribution, retailers, supermarkets, and restaurants. Our services encompass label claims verification and certification, adherence to the Global Food Safety Initiative standards, supplier assurance, and certification for foodservice equipment and non-food compounds, as well as organic certification. We also offer auditing, HACCP validation and inspection, DNA and food package testing, food safety training, and product and process development. We also offer expert consulting services in various areas, including food fraud and gap assessments, retail food safety, and brand standards.

NSF certifies top-tier facility management and product quality in the dietary, nutritional and cosmetic industries. Our tailored consulting, training and certification services ensure compliance and inspire confidence in professionals and customers for dietary supplements and cosmetics around the world.

NSF’s Water Division protects global public health with safe water solutions. It provides an extensive range of services for the water industry to help ensure the quality, performance and safety of products in the marketplace. Our industry experts provide comprehensive services, quality support and superior knowledge to clients around the globe. From a manufacturer’s perspective, NSF certification saves time and money, helps grow businesses and ensures peace of mind for customers.

As one of the world’s leading providers of supplier certifications, NSF helps companies to mitigate risk, demonstrate compliance with quality standards and build customer confidence.

Third-party organizations such as NSF, one of the world’s most respected, independent, accredited certification organizations, independently validate claims, safety and quality. Many claims, such as “healthy,” “green” and “natural” are not federally regulated, leading to greenwashing or misperceptions of certain products. Meanwhile, people are looking more carefully at product labels and certifications more than ever before. A 2025 study from NSF noted that 83% of people read food labels before making a purchase decision. Our team of public health experts helps consumers sift through all the misinformation while using stringent standards and processes to validate claims.

Dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmetics and personal care products are sold in a market ripe for bad actors looking to prey on consumers who may struggle to evaluate misleading claims. NSF ensures products are manufactured in a safe and hygienic way and that they meet or exceed FDA standards.

If you see the term “NSF-certified” on a product, it likely means that the manufacturer has achieved certification from NSF and meets stringent standard requirements. An NSF certification mark may indicate that the product or operation has been certified by one of the most independent certification bodies in the world.

To meet the growing demands of athletes, coaches and all those concerned about banned substances in sports supplements, cosmetics and personal care, NSF created the Certified for Sport® program. The program certifies that what is on the label is in the package and that the product does not contain unsafe levels of contaminants, prohibited substances or masking agents. Certification also means that supplement, functional food and cosmetics/personal care manufacturers and their suppliers meet stringent certification guidelines developed through a consensus process involving regulatory, sports industry and consumer groups.

The Certified for Sport® certification is the only independent third-party certification program recognized by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the Canadian Football League. Certified for Sport® is also recommended by the NFL, NBA, PGA, LPGA, CCES, CPSDA, iNADO, Ironman, NASCAR, Taylor Hooton Foundation and many other organizations seeking to mitigate the risks of contaminated dietary supplements.

Quality Assurance International (QAI) is an NSF company and a leading organic certification provider in global markets. You have likely seen the QAI logo on the back of many organic products.

Following an independent research study that revealed more than half of American consumers are concerned about the safety and quality of cookware and other household products, NSF established its home products and appliance certification program. Developed in 2012, this program is based on, but separate from, NSF’s commercial food equipment certification, which has been ensuring safer design and cleaning of appliances and tools used in commercial kitchens since the 1950s.

Designed to give consumers peace of mind regarding the quality, durability, and cleanability of various home products, the program covers food storage containers, cookware, bakeware, and small appliances such as coffee makers, slow cookers, and blenders. The program also includes kitchen gadgets and utensils, flatware and cutlery, personal beverage containers, corded home textiles (such as heated blankets, pads and mattress pads), fans, a space heater and many other products.

NSF/ANSI 305: Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients (NSF/ANSI 305) is one of the only consensus-based standards for the growing product category. The standard is based on the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) structure, style and intent. Because the NOP’s organic regulations were designed for food, it is often challenging for personal care products to be certified organic as they contain non-food ingredients and undergo complex manufacturing processes. Today, NSF/ANSI 305 is considered a best practice by the Organic Trade Association. Major retailers such as Whole Foods Market list NSF/ANSI 305 as a credible validation for personal care products.

Access a current list of NSF-certified products.