Gas　chromatography-ion　migration　spectroscopy　(GC-IMS)　is　an　effective　method　for　the　separation　and　sensitive　detection　of　volatile　organic　compounds　(Vocs).　This　technology　combines　the　advantages　of　high　separation　ability　of　GC　and　rapid　response　of　IMS,　with　fast　response　speed,　high　sensitivity,　convenient　operation　and　low　cost.　It　has　been　widely　used　in　the　fields　of　drug　detection,　disease　monitoring　and　environmental　protection,　especially　in　the　field　of　food　flavor　analysis.　This　review　first　introduces　the　working　principle　of　GC-IMS,　and　then　summarizes　the　application　of　GC-IMS　in　the　detection　of　flavor　substances　in　food　in　recent　years.　Finally,　the　future　paths　in　the　research　and　development　of　GC-IMS　are　discussed.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.