diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b2bacb5..2ac0dcb 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -57,8 +57,6 @@ services:
       - backend
     networks:
       - recipe-network
-    environment:
-      - REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:5000
 
   # Optional: MongoDB Express for database management
   mongo-express:
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/api.ts b/frontend/src/services/api.ts
index d4d1f47..651a6a6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/api.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import axios from 'axios';
 
-const API_BASE_URL = process.env.REACT_APP_API_URL || 'http://localhost:5000/api';
+const API_BASE_URL = process.env.REACT_APP_API_URL;
 
 const api = axios.create({
   baseURL: API_BASE_URL,