What is Chlorofluorocarbon 113?
Chlorofluorocarbon 113 (CFC-113), identified by CAS number 76-13-1, is a synthetic halogenated hydrocarbon belonging to the chlorofluorocarbon family. It is a colorless, odorless liquid with efficient refrigerant properties. The compound was developed in the mid-20th century as a non-flammable cooling agent and was initially considered an improvement over earlier refrigerants due to its stability and low toxicity profile.
Common Uses
Historically, CFC-113 was utilized in the food industry as a direct-contact freezing and cooling agent. Its primary applications included rapid freezing of food products and as a heat transfer medium in industrial food processing. The chemical's non-flammability and thermal stability made it attractive for high-volume food manufacturing operations. However, its use in food applications has been substantially discontinued in most developed nations since the 1990s.
Safety Assessment
Regarding direct human toxicity from food contact, CFC-113 has demonstrated a relatively low acute toxicity profile in laboratory studies. The FDA has recorded zero adverse events associated with this additive in food applications, and no food recalls have been attributed to CFC-113 contamination. However, the additive is not listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA for food use.
The primary safety concerns surrounding CFC-113 are environmental rather than toxicological. Scientific research, including landmark studies leading to the Montreal Protocol (1987), established that chlorofluorocarbons significantly deplete stratospheric ozone. This mechanism of action prompted global regulatory action independent of food safety considerations. While CFC-113 itself does not pose acute health risks through food consumption at historical exposure levels, its environmental impact prompted regulatory restrictions.
Regulatory Status
CFC-113 is no longer approved for food contact use in the United States, European Union, or most other countries. The substance was phased out under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international environmental treaty signed in 1987 and subsequently amended. The protocol established binding commitments to eliminate ozone-depleting substances, including all chlorofluorocarbons.
The FDA has not designated CFC-113 as GRAS for food applications, reflecting its discontinued status. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) similarly does not authorize its use in food processing. Viable alternative refrigerants and cooling technologies, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), and non-chemical cooling methods, have replaced CFC-based systems globally.
Key Studies
The foundational scientific work establishing CFC ozone depletion was conducted by Molina and Rowland in the 1970s, work for which they received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Subsequent atmospheric monitoring confirmed the formation of the Antarctic ozone hole and documented CFC contribution to this phenomenon. While direct toxicology studies on CFC-113 in food applications are limited in contemporary literature, historical safety assessments indicated low acute toxicity in controlled laboratory settings. The absence of reported adverse events in FDA databases reflects both the low toxicity profile and the discontinuation of food contact use decades ago.
Current research focuses on alternative refrigerant technologies and remediation of historical CFC releases rather than reassessing food safety applications of CFC-113.