The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is a neutral third-party organization that offers inspections and certifications for the safety and sanitation of all parts of the food service industry.
An NSF certification signifies a food product meets the public health and safety standards set by the NSF. It applies to the appliances and products found in a commercial kitchen. This includes the lighting fixtures operating in food manufacturing and processing facilities (including pet foods), food prep and cooking areas, and even in many agricultural and herbicidal production areas.
If food is consumed by humans or animals it needs to be handled in safe conditions. Food safety is crucial to ensuring the health and wellbeing of everyone by preventing all forms of food borne illness or injury.
NSF Lighting fixtures adhere to the rules of two separate government agencies that enforce strict standards to protect the public’s safety. These include:
NSF International (NSF), which ensures that products used in the food and beverage industry are safe and comply with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which oversees the development of national food safety standards to protect public health.
Food Safe LED Lights must meet the rules of both agencies to be considered NSF/ANSI 2 listed (or, NSF-certified for short), a certification that ensures the fixture is safe for use in food-related environments.
NSF certification ensures that the light fixture in question meets specific criteria for NSF certification in food and beverage facilities:
* NSF-approved lighting products must deliver light output (footcandle) levels that are adequate for food preparation and food storage areas.
*These products must be shatterproof to ensure that no broken glass splinters over food or other equipment.
* Fixtures must be easily accessible; resistant to the intrusion of dust, water, and other hazards; and designed for easy cleaning to minimize the breeding of bacteria or mold. A fixture that is IP69K rated meets these criteria. The 6 means it is dust tight (allowing no ingress of dust) and the 9 means it is protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs.
To receive an NSF/ANSI 2 rating, LED fixtures must go through an application process that generally follows seven steps:
1. Application and specifications submission
2. Product evaluation by certifying body
3. Product testing in accredited lab
4. Manufacturing facility on-site inspection, production confirmation, and product sampling
5. Test results review and acceptance
6. Contract signed and products listed
7. Annual plant inspection and retesting
NSF-certified lighting fixtures are required in all locations that perform food preparation and/or processing. This includes everything from factories that process meat or prepare pre-packaged food, to restaurants, bakeries, cafeterias, and commissary kitchens. They’re also required in food storage areas like walk-in refrigerators, pantries, as well as self-serve food areas like salad bars and buffets.
Furthermore, there are also specific “work zones” in each of these locations that require their own specifications. For example, dry food areas require an NSF-rated lighting fixture that emits at least 108 lux (10-foot candles) at a distance of 30 inches above the floor. You can refer to the most recent edition of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code to find information regarding specific “zones of light intensity” requirements.
Having a clear understanding of the conditions and activities in each area of a facility will allow you to make the right NSF-rated LED lighting decisions and recommendations.
Failure of a food or beverage facility to meet any of these standards could lead to a violation, removal of the lights, or even a shutdown, until the lighting is brought into compliance. The costs associated with these violations could result in millions of dollars in damages. However, that pales in comparison to the cost of using the wrong fixtures that trap and spread bacteria and diseases that contaminate the food supply, which could have the most severe consequences.
Using the proper lighting products with NSF certification not only ensures public health and reduces the company’s liabilities but also displays a company’s commitment to safety and quality which in turn increases consumer confidence in their products.
