The first standards for the hygienic design of equipment used in the dairy industry were introduced in the 1920s. These standards became known as '3-A standards' for the three interest groups that cooperated to improve equipment design and sanitation - regulatory sanitarians, equipment fabricators, and processors.

3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. was incorporated as an independent not-for-profit corporation in 2002 dedicated to the mission of advancing food safety through hygienic equipment design. The membership consists of four associations: American Dairy Products Institute, International Dairy Foods Association, Food Processing Suppliers Association and the International Association for Food Protection.

Today’s 3-A SSI maintains a large inventory of design criteria for equipment and processing systems developed using a modern consensus process based on ANSI requirements to promote acceptance by USDA, FDA and state regulatory authorities. 3-A SSI oversees the 3-A Symbol Authorization program and other voluntary certificates to help affirm the integrity of hygienic processing equipment and systems. And 3-A SSI provides extensive Knowledge Resources to support the training and education needs in the rapidly changing food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.