Sam Cole

Director, Product Certification

As Director of Product Certification - Equipment and Chemical Evaluation, Global Food Division, Sam Cole leads NSF’s nonfood certification and evaluation teams. His teams prevent foodborne illness by certifying and registering commercial and processing food service equipment, food contact materials, and nonfood compounds, including lubricants, greases and other chemicals used in and around food processing areas. NSF also serves as a third-party profiler for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program.

Cole joined NSF’s product certification team in 2015. His wealth of knowledge in the certification process and industry regulations has served clients around the globe, helping to support NSF’s offerings to the food industry in the areas of food contact materials and food equipment.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University, where he served as Master Alchemist (President) of Alpha Chi Sigma, Alpha Upsilon Chapter – a chemical sciences fraternity. Prior to joining NSF, he served in various leadership positions in the retail industry. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the gym, cheering on his favorite sports team, and, most of all, spending time with his wife and daughter.

His areas of expertise include:

  • Commercial food equipment
  • Food processing equipment and chemicals
  • Food automation and robotics
  • Food contact materials
  • Safer Choice program