What is NSF certificate and why is it important for your Cold Press machine?
When eating or drinking any processed drink or food, there are few consumers who stop and think about anything further than the expiry date when it comes to consider if the product is in optimum conditions to be consumed. For consumers’ peace of mind, the companies that produce those products must ensure that their processes and equipment meet and guarantee optimum safe conditions, quality and sustainability of the product. This is where the value of NSF Certification comes into play. Do you want to know more about it? Then keep reading.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is fundamental for the food safety of the products we process. In the case of cold pressed juice production, given that in many cases the end product does not receive any further treatment after pressing, fulfilment of the hygiene regulations and certifications is fundamental. In the USA, NSF certification is a basic requirement, and is required by food processors when they purchase their machinery. If your field of action is the United States, your equipment should be backed up by this international certificate on food quality and safety.
In all other countries, while it is not a certification required by the health authorities, it is a guarantee that the machine fulfils the strictest hygiene regulations with respect to materials and machine design. This guarantees that the juicing machine is a clean point (provided that the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning and maintenance are followed).
Why is an NSF certificate important?
If you are considering the possibility of setting up a natural juice business, one of the main aspects for the business success is to get familiar with the regulations on food safety that apply in your area. It may be rather frustrating when you make all efforts to design the best juice recipes and then get fined by health authorities for processing fruit or vegetables with inadequate industrial juice processing equipment that does not guarantee hygienic requirements.
If you would like to stay away from this problem, you should ask your Cold Press equipment supplier if their technology is NSF certified. NSF International is an independent body with the most advanced laboratories, technology and analysis techniques to certify that products and equipment meet specific safety standards.
It was set up in 1944, as part of the Public Health Department in Michigan’s University and has become the most reliable standard for food safety at a global level and particularly relevant within the USA.
Keep on learning: Mission and competency of NSF International
NSF certificate is, therefore, an essential requirement to ensure that Cold Press juice meets these strict standards and are 100% safe for consumers.
What does NSF do to guarantee equipment quality?
The first think you should consider is that when you have NSF certified equipment, you are presenting before the relevant body in charge of ensuring safety compliance in your country, that your company meets internationally accepted standards. Such standards are much more demanding that local regulations and this guarantees maximum quality in product processing and focuses on the commercialization of the product.
NSF performs intensive product tests and material analysis during spot checks to production centres. This ensures that any aspect related to equipment development is supervised and assessed before the certification is granted.
On the other hand, we should take into account that if your equipment is NSF certified, this ensures not only the quality of the juice that you produce, but also that any new equipment or replacement will be supervised and certified by NSF International.
How can I know if my Cold Press equipment is NSF certified?
NSF certified products and equipment for natural juice are denominated “NSF-Certified” or “NFS-Listed” and clearly display the following certification mark.
Just like the new Zumex Cold Press juice extractor generation. In order to earn this certificate, Mastery’s design had to meet a number of general specifications or “good practices” in relation with equipment in contact with food. Their main basis consists on ensuring easy cleaning, hygienic conditions and the use of suitable materials for health protection. This was a challenge for Zumex engineering team, who had to rethink the whole project and adapt it to NSF requirements.
Mastery is the only Cold Press machine on the market with the NSF stamp, since other manufacturers only mention that they comply with the NSF regulations, but have not actually been audited by NSF. Check that your machine is listed on the NSF website.
Setting up a Cold Press juice business requires effort and commitment. This post, already described some of the aspects to be taken into account, since, as your already know, there are many sides to care for: location, local consumption habits, raw material quality, streamlining equipment cleaning time and procedures, the bureaucratic demands that correspond to this type of business, etc. For this reason, Mastery is the only Cold Press machine on the market with the NSF stamp, since other manufacturers only mention that they comply with the NSF regulations, but have not actually been audited by NSF. Check that your machine is listed on the NSF website.
Any questions about NSF certificate? Would you like to know the quality marks carried by Zumex Mastery? Contact our sales department and learn about the competitive advantages of our solution.
