NSF H1 · NSF 537 · PFAS-free
Food grade lubricants: ensuring safety in the food and beverage industry
The food and beverage industry applies stringent rules to safeguard food safety for consumers. Our innovative food-grade lubricants and cleaners are NSF H1 certified, and PFAS-free, making them the ideal choice for applications in the food industry. Interflon is the world's first lubricant supplier to achieve NSF 537 PFAS-free certification across a complete H1 and 3H range, giving you independently verified, audit-ready proof of PFAS-free status.
With Interflon, you not only meet all applicable regulations — you can prove it.
Besides that, our NSF H1 and A1 products hold The Vegan Society's Vegan Trademark, signifying that they contain no animal-derived ingredients or undergo animal testing. And they are Kosher and Halal certified, complying with specific dietary laws.
Explore our extensive range of food-grade products
What are food-grade lubricants?
Food-grade lubricants are specially formulated for safe use in the food and beverage industry. They reduce friction and protect production equipment from corrosion, moisture, and contaminants.
While their manufacturing process is similar to that of conventional lubricants, food-grade variants use carefully selected, high-quality raw materials that are free from harmful substances. These lubricants are rigorously tested and certified to meet strict safety and performance standards.
Interflon's food-grade lubricants and cleaners are specifically designed to withstand the demanding conditions of food processing plants and beverage factories. They are capable of enduring daily cleaning routines involving pressure washers, hot water, and even aggressive chemicals.
Interflon is the first lubricant supplier in the world to achieve NSF 537 PFAS-free certification across a complete H1 and 3H food-grade range, giving you independently verified, audit-ready proof of PFAS-free status.
Results from customers
Over 20,000 food and beverage producers worldwide trust Interflon. Our NSF-certified and PFAS-free products guarantee safe operations and help minimize downtime while enhancing the reliability of your machines.
What that looks like in practice:
- A Bolognese sauce manufacturer eliminated oil leaks and product contamination by switching to Interflon.
- A customer saved 4,000 litres of water per month and eliminated contamination risks food-grade dry lubricant on their conveyor belts.
- An apple processing plant extended the service life of bearings and chains to 2 to 3 seasons,
- A global beer brewery saved €500 per month after switching to Interflon Food Grease 1 in their bottle washing system.
- A fryer producer achieved annual savings exceeding €60,000 through optimised bearing lubrication.
Which industries use food-grade lubricants?
Food-grade lubricants are essential in any environment where lubricated equipment operates near food or beverage products. Interflon supplies NSF H1 certified lubricants and cleaners to manufacturers across the full food and beverage supply chain. Explore the specific lubrication challenges and solutions for your industry:
- Beverage industry, filling machines, blow moulders, labellers, conveyor belts
- Poultry processing, transport chains, stunning conveyors, washdown-resistant bearing grease
- Bakeries, chains in kneading and proofer areas, spiral freezers, packaging lines
- Agriculture, PTO cardan shafts, harvester chains, heavily contaminated environments
- Fruit processing, calibrator chains, air rail systems, high-water environments
Certifications for peace of mind
Our food-grade lubricants meet the highest health and safety standards set by renowned organizations such as NSF, HACCP, BRC, and IFS. They are also vegan, kosher and halal certified, ensuring suitability for any target group. All relevant documents and certificates are readily available for you to view online, so you are always up to date. Find out exactly what auditors check and what to have ready on our audit documentation page.
Commitment to quality
Interflon holds ISO 9001 and ISO 21469 certifications, demonstrating our dedication to maintaining exceptional quality throughout our production process. ISO 21469 is the international hygiene standard specifically for the manufacture of food-grade lubricants, it certifies not just the product, but the entire production process. We adhere to strict hygiene protocols, preventing any possibility of contamination. When you choose Interflon, you can trust that you are receiving safe and top-quality products.
Reasons to choose Interflon:
- Reasons to choose Interflon:
- PFAS-free certified under NSF 537 — independently verified, publicly listed
- World's first complete H1 and 3H range with NSF 537 certification
- Proven savings: up to €60,000 per year per application
- NSF H1 & ISO 21469 certified across the full range
- Specifically designed for use in a food processing environment
- Minimize machine downtime
- Reduce maintenance costs
- Ensure safer business operations
- Lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions
- Kosher and halal certifications for broader suitability
- Free from animal-derived ingredients and animal testing
- MicPol® technology for significantly lower friction and longer relubrication intervals
Frequently Asked Questions about food-grade lubricants
NSF 537 matters because it is NSF International’s PFAS-free certification standard for lubricants, introduced in 2025. It independently verifies that a lubricant contains no intentionally added PFAS substances. Unlike a supplier’s own PFAS-free claim, NSF 537 certification is publicly verifiable via NSF’s online listings and provides documentation that supports supplier approval processes, HACCP audits, and GFSI-aligned quality systems.
Interflon is the world’s first lubricant supplier to achieve NSF 537 certification across a complete H1 and 3H food-grade range.
The different NSF classifications for lubricants define where each product may be used within a food processing environment, based on the risk of contact with food at that lubrication point.
- NSF H1 covers lubricants for incidental food contact. These are used in production areas where contact between the lubricant and food may occur. The permitted trace level in the final product may not exceed 10 ppm. NSF H1 is the most common and strictest classification for active production zones.
- NSF H2 covers lubricants with no food contact. These are permitted in food processing facilities, but only in areas where contact with food is completely impossible, such as enclosed systems outside the production zone.
- NSF H3 covers lubricants for direct food contact during production. These must contain only edible oils such as soybean, corn or cottonseed oil, or specific mineral and Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) oils.
- NSF 3H covers release agents with potential for incidental food contact, up to a maximum of 100 ppm. Common applications include treatment of knives, meat grinders and similar equipment to prevent food adhesion.
Whether an H2 lubricant can be used in a food preparation environment depends on whether food contact can be completely ruled out at that lubrication point. H2 lubricants are permitted in food processing facilities, but only where there is no possibility of contact with food. Where any risk of contact exists, however small, an NSF H1 lubricant is required. Manufacturers who use H2 lubricants in borderline areas must document that adequate measures are in place to prevent contamination. When in doubt, H1 is always the correct choice.
NSF registration does not automatically mean a product is safe for human consumption or safe for the environment in a general sense. What NSF registration confirms is that a product meets specific standards for its defined use in food processing environments, based on approved ingredient lists and permitted trace levels. It significantly reduces health risk in that context, but it is a compliance standard for a specific application, not a broad safety guarantee.
“Food grade” refers to materials and products that are safe for direct contact with food. They comply with specific standards and regulations set by regulatory agencies based on intended use. Examples of food-grade materials include stainless steel, glass, certain plastics, and NSF registered lubricants.
“Food safe” is a broader term that refers to anything that is safe for use with food. It can apply to materials, products, equipment, or processes that have no harmful effects on human health.
While "food grade" specifically refers to materials suitable for food contact, "food safe" can also apply to other aspects, such as food preparation methods, storage conditions, and food processing techniques.
