The food contaminants and residues from food processing and food packaging materials are threating the food quality and safety, such as pesticide residue, veterinary drug, illegal non-food substances and organic pollutants. Therefore, the advanced modern detection methods are indispensable for food analysis. Meanwhile, the complex of food matrix and diversity of the food contaminants and residues also propose the higher requirements for food detection technology. The time of flight mass as one of the mass techniques is considered as a superior analysis technique and has been applied in food quality and safety analysis as a result of its high sensitivity and resolution. In this paper, research progresses of the time of flight mass on the detection of food additives, food contaminants and residues, illegal non-food substances, pesticide residue, veterinary drug and mycotoxin have been reviewed and its probable approaching applications have been prospected.