Does Brita remove PFAS?

Last reviewed July 2026.

Some models — and the split is easy to miss. A certified PFOA/PFOS claim usually lives in NSF/ANSI 401 (emerging contaminants), and Brita carries it only on some models. The ones without it are still genuinely certified — just not for PFAS.

Model by model

OB06: WQA Gold Seal certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401. Brita's US pitcher filters are certified by WQA, not NSF — they do not appear in the NSF listing database.

OB03: Certified to NSF/ANSI 42 (aesthetic effects — chlorine taste and odor) ONLY. It carries no NSF/ANSI 53 health certification, so it makes no certified lead claim. Brita's own product page lists chlorine, mercury, copper and cadmium — lead is absent.

What the certified claim costs to run

Certification is per model, and so is the running cost. The cheapest Brita model carrying the claim is the Elite Replacement Filter (formerly Longlast+) (OB06) at about $19.99 per filter for a certified 120 gallons — $0.167 per certified gallon.

That capacity is what the certifier tested to, not a marketing estimate. For one person drinking about half a gallon a day it is roughly 8 months per filter; for a family of four, closer to 2 months. Run past the rated capacity and the claim no longer applies — the media is exhausted even though the filter still passes water.

How to check this yourself

Nothing here needs to be taken on trust. Brita's certifications are held by WQA, and each keeps a public database you can search by brand or model number. Look up the model printed on the filter — not the box, not the retail listing — and read which standards the entry lists. A model certified to 42 only will say exactly that.

Direct listings: OB06 · OB03

If a figure on this page disagrees with the certifier's listing, the listing wins. Tell us and we will correct it.

What "removes PFAS" actually covers

The certified claim is PFOA/PFOS reduction — the two legacy compounds the standards test for — not "all PFAS", a family of thousands of chemicals. A certified filter is still the strongest verifiable option a pitcher or fridge filter can offer; just read the claim as written. Standards background: 42 vs 53 vs 401.

Related: Is Brita NSF certified? · Does Brita remove lead?

We do not test filters — we index what accredited certifiers publish, with attribution, and make no health or treatment claims. A certification covers a specific model against a specific standard; it is not a general seal of quality. We are not affiliated with NSF International.