What the NSF H1 certification means
NSF International (formerly National Sanitation Foundation) is the body that certifies lubricants for use in the food industry. The H1 classification indicates that the lubricant can be used at points where there is a risk of incidental contact with food products — that is, where it cannot be 100% guaranteed that the lubricant will not touch the food.
The ingredients of an H1 lubricant must all be approved by the FDA under 21 CFR §178.3570 (for oils) or §178.3620 (for white petroleum fluids). NSF H1 certification guarantees that the manufacturer has verified and declared compliance with these requirements.
H1, H2, and HX-1: the three NSF categories
- H1: for use where there is a risk of incidental food contact. Mandatory at lubrication points close to the production line.
- H2: for use at points where there is no possibility of food contact. Does not require FDA-approved ingredients, but application control is required.
- HX-1: for individual approved ingredients for formulation of H1 lubricants. Not a finished product category.
Which lubrication points require H1 in a food plant
The HACCP risk analysis of the facility must identify lubrication points with risk of contact with the product. As a general criterion:
- Lubrication on or directly above the production line or exposed product area: always H1.
- Chains and conveyors that touch or are within 1 metre of the product: H1.
- Bearings of fillers, sealers, and dosers: H1.
- Hydraulic systems of equipment with risk of leakage onto the product: H1.
- Lubrication points in clean rooms or high-risk zones: H1.
- Completely sealed points far from the product line: may be H2 with documented justification.
How to implement the transition to H1 lubricants
The transition to H1 lubricants does not require changing all plant lubricants at once. The correct process is:
- Step 1: identify all plant lubrication points (complete inventory).
- Step 2: classify each point by risk of contact with the product (H1 / H2 / no risk).
- Step 3: select the equivalent H1 lubricant for each point that requires it.
- Step 4: verify viscosity and thickener compatibility with the equipment.
- Step 5: carry out the change at the next planned shutdown, cleaning out the previous residue.
- Step 6: document the change with technical datasheet and NSF certificate for the audit.
Documentation is as important as the lubricant. In an IFS Food or BRC audit, the NSF H1 certificate for the product used at each risk point will be required. LUBESOLUT provides complete documentation with every product.
H1 lubricants are not a regulatory whim: they are the barrier that protects the consumer and the certification that protects the company in an audit. The good news is that modern H1 lubricants offer exactly the same technical performance as conventional ones — and their additional cost is marginal compared to the cost of a food safety incident.
Request conversion to H1 lubricants