Culligan · Refrigerator Filters
Culligan CUFUII Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter
Lower-concern water filter; no PFAS triggers identified, but Culligan makes no public PFAS commitments.
Culligan refrigerator filters rely on activated carbon and mechanical filtration, materials with minimal inherent PFAS risk. Culligan does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or make PFAS-free claims for this product. No third-party PFAS verification or government recalls are on record.
Shop Culligan on Amazon →Material
Activated carbon, coconut shell/cellulose composite filter media
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The CUFUII uses activated coconut-shell carbon as its primary filtration medium, bonded with cellulose fiber into a composite cartridge. Activated carbon works by adsorption, trapping chlorine, odor, and some organic compounds in its porous structure without releasing them back into water under normal use. Coconut-shell carbon is inert and does not leach toxic byproducts into drinking water at refrigerator temperatures and flow rates.
The brand's record and disclosure
Culligan is a long-established water-treatment company with NSF certification for many products, though the CUFUII cartridge itself carries NSF/ANSI Standard 42 rating (aesthetic contaminants) and does not claim NSF 53 (health-effects contaminants) coverage. The company does not publish detailed chemical composition disclosures or explicit PFAS avoidance statements, which is typical for legacy water-filter manufacturers but reflects limited transparency standards in the refrigerator-filter sector. No major recalls or safety controversies specific to this filter model are on record.
How it compares in its category
Refrigerator water filters are typically either activated carbon (like this one) or multi-stage carbon-resin blends. Carbon-only designs like the CUFUII are simpler and carry lower risk of resin particle shedding or ion-exchange byproduct leaching compared to more complex cartridges. This filter is a direct OEM alternative compatible with most LG refrigerators, so it avoids third-party product variability and inconsistent manufacturing oversight common in aftermarket generics.
If you buy it
Replace every 6 months or 300 gallons of use, whichever comes first, to prevent bacterial biofilm growth inside a saturated cartridge; Culligan publishes replacement schedules prominently. Store filters in a dry place away from heat and sunlight before installation, as moisture can degrade the carbon structure and cellulose binder. Refrigerator filters sit at cold temperatures (below 50F) where chemical leaching risk is minimal, and coconut carbon does not off-gas volatile compounds like some polyester-resin housings might. Run water for 2-3 seconds after a new cartridge is installed to flush any loose carbon fines.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Bacterial growth in unmaintained cartridge
If the filter is not replaced on schedule, activated carbon can become saturated and serve as a growth medium for biofilm. This is a maintenance failure, not a defect in the CUFUII design itself, but extended use beyond 6 months increases risk.
Activated carbon fines (loose particles)
New carbon cartridges can shed small black particles into water for the first few flushes. This is cosmetic and poses no known health risk, but flushing the filter before first use is standard practice and recommended by Culligan.
Housing material leachates
The CUFUII plastic housing is not documented to leach BPA, phthalates, or other endocrine disruptors under refrigerator conditions. Culligan does not disclose housing resin type publicly, but no complaints or test reports suggest leachate contamination.
Inadequate contaminant reduction claims
The filter is NSF 42 certified (chlorine, taste, odor) but not NSF 53 (lead, cysts, Cryptosporidium). If your water supply has lead or pathogens, this filter alone will not remove them; use only as a taste/odor treatment, not a health-critical barrier.
Cellulose binder degradation over time
The composite filter media uses cellulose fibers to bind carbon particles. Under normal cold-water use, cellulose is stable, but no published lifespan data exists for cartridges stored unopened for years. Rotate stock and avoid storage above 80F or in high humidity.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Refrigerator Filters
Kenmore
9690 Refrigerator Water Filter 1-Pack, Nsf/wqa/iapmo Certified, Reduces 99% Chlorine & Odor, BPA-Free, Replacement for 46-9690 469690 Lt700p
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Lower-concern water filter; carbon-based design unlikely to contain PFAS, but Kenmore makes no explicit PFAS disclosure.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Kenmore
Pureline Filter Compatible with Whirlpool Everydrop Filter 1
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Lower concern for PFAS; standard cartridge filter with no known PFAS-bearing materials, but brand offers no transparency.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Clearly Filtered
Water Pitcher Replacement Filter 3-Pack
Activated carbon and ion-exchange resin filter media
Lower-concern option; activated carbon filters are standard PFAS-reduction media, but verify pitcher durability and actual tested removal rates independently.
✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)
More refrigerator filters grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.