Food safety remains a global concern, with hazardous substances potentially occurring throughout the entire food supply chain, from farm to table. Therefore, rapid and reliable detection methods are critical for food safety monitoring. Small Molecular Organic Fluorescent Probes (SMOFPs) have emerged as powerful tools for detecting food contaminants due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, rapid response, ease of operation, and low cost. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in SMOFPs for food safety applications, covering fundamental design principles and sensing mechanisms. It summarizes selected publications from 2015 to 2025 on the detection of harmful ions, food additives, foodborne pathogens, and pesticide or veterinary drug residues. In addition, the integration of SMOFPs with advanced smart devices for real-time monitoring is highlighted. This review aims to provide valuable insights and practical guidance to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world applications, contributing to improved food quality and public health.
TIAN et al. (Sat,) studied this question.