NSF 53 Certified Refrigerator Water Filters – GlacierFresh®

NSF/IAPMO Standard 53 is a rigorous certification for water filters that verifies a filter's ability to reduce contaminants with known health effects — such as lead, cysts, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When a filter carries this certification, it has been independently tested and confirmed to meet strict performance and safety benchmarks set by NSF International and IAPMO.

GlacierFresh® NSF 53 certified refrigerator filters are tested to reduce a range of health-effect contaminants, including:

• Lead
• Cysts (Cryptosporidium, Giardia)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Chlorine and chloramines
• Other health-effect contaminants per NSF/ANSI 53 scope

Specific reduction rates vary by filter model. Please refer to the individual product page for the full performance data sheet.

No — NSF 42 and NSF 53 address different filtration goals. NSF 42 covers aesthetic effects such as improved taste, odor, and chlorine reduction. NSF 53 goes further, certifying filters for health effects reduction — meaning it targets contaminants that pose actual health risks, like lead and cysts. GlacierFresh® NSF 53 certified filters meet the higher health-protection standard.

Yes. All GlacierFresh® NSF/IAPMO 53 certified filters are tested and certified by IAPMO, an accredited third-party certification body recognized by NSF International. This means our filters undergo independent laboratory testing — not just manufacturer claims — to verify contaminant reduction performance before earning certification.

Yes. Water filtered through an NSF 53 certified filter has been verified to meet strict health-effect reduction standards. GlacierFresh® filters are designed to deliver clean, safe drinking water for your household. For best results, replace your filter every 6 months or 200 gallons — whichever comes first — to maintain peak filtration performance.