An improved method for the degradation of haloaliphatic compounds using induced cells of sulfate reducing anaerobic bacterium, particularly Desulfomonile tiedjei, is described. The cells are induced using 1,3-substituted phenyl compounds, particularly 3-halobenzoates, such as 3-fluorobenzoate which are gratuitous inducers and thus are not dehalogenated. The result is a much more rapid dehalogenation of the haloaliphatic compounds than was achieved by prior art methods using uninduced cells.