Foodborne　contaminants　widely　exist　in　foods,　which　can　lead　to　various　foodborne　diseases　and　food　safety　issues.　The　development　of　quick,　sensitive　and　universal　analytical　approaches　for　foodborne　contaminants　is　imperative.　Electrochemiluminescent　functional　nucleic　acids　(ECL　FNAs)-based　sensors　are　a　series　of　sensing　devices　using　FNAs　as　the　recognition　elements　and　ECL　as　the　transducer.　Contributing　to　the　specific　recognition　ability　of　FNA　and　the　high　sensitivity　of　ECL,　ECL　FNA-based　sensors　are　considered　to　be　of　great　application　potential　for　foodborne　contaminants　monitoring.　This　review　mainly　presents　the　applications　of　ECL　FNA-based　sensors　for　foodborne　contaminants　(including　microorganisms,　mycotoxins,　allergens,　antibiotics,　heavy　metal　ions,　pesticides　and　some　illegal　additives).　In　general,　the　application　of　ECL　FNA-based　sensors　in　the　field　of　food　analysis　is　just　in　its　infancy.　Although　there　are　several　limitations　and　challenges,　it　is　envisaged　that　ECL　FNA-based　sensors　will　have　broad　prospects　for　food　analysis　in　the　future.　©　2019　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.