How to Determine a USDA Rating for a Chemical

The United States Department of Agriculture once placed ratings on chemical products used in the factories that manufacture foods in America. The rating system is now controlled by the National Sanitation Foundation. It has retained its simplicity, using one letter and one number to identify the products, ranging from cleaning products to pesticides. The letter of the rating is determined by the type of product, while the number is based on the product's purpose. These ratings are located on the NSF's List of Proprietary Substances and Nonfood Compounds."

Things You'll Need

• NSF List of Proprietary Substances and Nonfood Compounds

Show More

Instructions

Type of Chemical Being Rated

• 1

  Locate the label on the side of the chemical's container or the material safety data sheet. This will not include the chemical rating but will include important information in determining the rating.

  Example: TUMBLE™ powder laundry detergent has a material safety data sheet located on its website.

• 2

  Assign the letter corresponding to the category of the product.

  Example: TUMBLE™ is a powdered laundry detergent, which places it under compounds for laundry use. This section is designated B.

• 3

  Match up the intended use with a category listed on the NSF ratings reference list.

  Example: TUMBLE™ corresponds with B.

Subcategory

• 4

  Locate within the chosen section of the NSF reference list a more in-depth description of what the chemical does.

  Example: For laundry products, two sections are found. One is for laundry intended to come in contact with food products, the other is for laundry, such as uniforms and other fabrics not intended for contact with food products.

• 5

  Determine which description from the NSF reference list matches with the description of the chemical being researched.

  Example: TUMBLE™ states that it is ideal for all laundry, placing it in the first subcategory of B.

• 6

  The letter and number combination placed together is the NSF chemical rating for the product.

  Example: TUMBLE™ powder laundry detergent has a chemical rating of B1.