The Impact of Refrigerators on Food Safety and Availability

The introduction of refrigerators in households improved the quality and safety of food. Before refrigerators, people had to go to the market frequently and had limited options for storing leftovers. With refrigerators, food could be stored for longer periods, reducing waste and increasing availability. The appearance of refrigerators also led to a decrease in food prices. The history of refrigeration dates back to the ice trade in the 19th century, where ice was harvested, stored, and transported to cities. The ice trade expanded globally, leading to the popularization of ice boxes as a means to store food. However, the early mechanical refrigerators using toxic refrigerants were dangerous. The invention of CFCs, specifically Freon, by Thomas Midgley Jr. in the 1920s revolutionized refrigeration and made it safer, eventually replacing the icebox.