Short answer
NSF H1, H2 and H3 are registration categories for lubricants and related products used in food and beverage plants. H1 covers lubricants where incidental food contact is possible, H2 covers lubricants used only where there is no possibility of food contact, and H3 covers soluble oils used to clean and prevent rust on items like hooks and trolleys. NSF reviews formulations and lists registered products; the USDA ended its own program in 1998.
Where the categories came from
The H1, H2 and H3 categories were originally used by the US Department of Agriculture, which discontinued its lubricant registration program in 1998. NSF International now runs the registration program and publishes registered products in its listings, often called the White Book.
H1: incidental contact
H1 is the category most food plants care about. NSF’s H1 registration is modeled on FDA regulation 21 CFR 178.3570, which lists substances allowed in lubricants with incidental food contact. Formulations are checked against permitted ingredients, and the regulation limits the amount of lubricant that may end up in food to 10 parts per million in the event of incidental contact.
H1 does not mean a lubricant is meant to contact food. It means the formulation is acceptable if a small, unintended amount does, for example on equipment above or near a product line.
H2 and H3
H2 lubricants are for equipment and machine parts in food plants where there is no possibility that the lubricant or the lubricated surface will contact food. They may contain ingredients not permitted in H1 products.
H3 products are soluble oils used to clean and prevent rust on hooks, trolleys and similar equipment. They are not incidental-contact lubricants and must be removed from equipment before it goes back into use, as the plant’s procedures specify.
How to check a product
A registered product carries the NSF mark and its category code, and appears in the NSF listings with a registration number. Because formulations and registrations change, check the current listing rather than relying on an old data sheet. Many plants also require food-grade status in their HACCP or food safety plan and keep H1 and non-food lubricants physically separated to avoid mix-ups.
Frequently asked questions
Is H1 the same as “food-safe”?
No. H1 means acceptable for incidental contact within regulatory limits, not intended for direct contact or consumption.
Does NSF have other food categories?
Yes. Besides H1, H2 and H3, NSF registers categories such as heat transfer fluids and release agents. Check the listing for the exact category.
General maintenance information. Always follow your vehicle or equipment manufacturer’s requirements and the current product data. Questions? Email [email protected].