Abstract: Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is an analytical method that combines electrochemistry and photochemistry. It has attracted a lot of attention from researchers in the field of food analysis due to its advantages of high controllability, high sensitivity and fast response time. ECL is the sensitive detection of target substances by varying the concentration of luminophores or co-reactants, resulting in changes in their signal intensity. Firstly, the classical ECL detection system and the novel luminophore and co-reactor based detection system are summarized in this paper. It also focuses on recent advances in metal nanoclusters and quantum dots as novel luminophores, and illustrates the structure and detection principle of their ECL sensors with examples. Secondly, the research progress of ECL sensors in the food analysis field. Finally, the future development trend of ECL sensor technology is predicted. It provides a reference for the detection of nutrients and contaminants in food, and also encourages further research into this technology to support the future development of food testing.