Does Brita Remove PFAS? What Its WQA Listings Show
Short answer: No. Brita filters are not certified for PFAS. Here's what their listings show - and which filters are certified for it.
Brita's filters are certified by WQA. The standard filter is listed under NSF/ANSI 42 for taste and odor and NSF/ANSI 53 for cadmium, copper and mercury. The Elite filter (formerly Longlast+) adds NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. Neither listing includes PFOA or PFOS. Checked against Brita's listings in the WQA product directory on 3 October 2026.
What Brita actually filters
Brita filters are designed to improve taste and odor. They use activated carbon to reduce chlorine, which makes tap water taste better. That's what NSF 42 certifies; their NSF 53 listings add a few metals.
| Contaminant | Brita Standard | Brita Elite (formerly Longlast+) |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (taste & odor) | Yes | Yes |
| PFAS (PFOA, PFOS) | No | No |
| Lead | No | Yes |
| Fluoride | No | No |
| Bacteria | No | No |
Why Brita can't remove PFAS
PFAS molecules are extremely small and chemically stable. Standard activated carbon - the type used in Brita filters - has limited surface area and contact time to capture PFAS at the concentrations found in tap water.
For a certified PFAS claim, look for a carbon filter or reverse osmosis system listed for PFOA/PFOS by name under NSF 53 or 58. No Brita filter we checked has that listing.
What actually removes PFAS
For a certified PFAS claim, a filter has to be listed for PFOA and PFOS by name, under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58. These three are, at different levels of installation:
Is Brita worth buying at all?
Yes - if your only concern is chlorine taste. Brita does what it says: it makes tap water taste better. At $30-50 it's an affordable option for people on city water with no PFAS concerns.
But if you're in an area with PFAS contamination, or if you have older pipes with lead risk, Brita is not sufficient. You need a filter listed for PFOA/PFOS or lead by name.
Buying direct from the brand
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