Chloramphenicol is a widely used bactericide and highly effective antibiotic in aquaculture and livestock breeding. To protect human health, detecting chloramphenicol residues in animal-derived food products has become increasingly important. This review introduces the properties of chloramphenicol, the limit standards, and the hazards of residual chloramphenicol in animal-derived food products. Furthermore, it describes commonly used chloramphenicol detection methods. In addition, the review thoroughly analyzes and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different detection methods, outlining methods to improve the efficiency and precision of chloramphenicol detection to ensure the quality and safety of animal-derived food products. Finally, the prospects for developing advanced detection techniques and analytical methods are prospected.