The　excessive　use　of　pesticides　and　drugs,　coupled　with　environmental　pollution,　has　resulted　in　the　persistence　of　contaminants　on　food.　These　pollutants　tend　to　accumulate　in　humans　through　the　food　chain,　posing　a　significant　threat　to　human　health.　Therefore,　it　is　crucial　to　develop　rapid,　low-cost,　portable,　and　on-site　biosensors　for　detecting　food　contaminants.　Among　various　biosensors,　polymer-based　biosensors　have　emerged　as　promising　probes　for　detection　of　food　contaminants　in　recent　years,　due　to　their　various　functions　such　as　target　binding,　enrichment,　and　simple　signal　reading.　This　paper　aims　to　discuss　the　characteristics　of　five　types　of　food　pollutants—heavy　metals,　pesticide　residues,　pathogenic　bacteria,　allergens,　and　antibiotics—and　their　adverse　effects　on　human　health.　Additionally,　this　paper　focuses　on　the　principle　of　polymer-based　biosensors　and　their　latest　applications　in　detecting　these　five　types　of　food　contaminants　in　actual　food　samples.　Furthermore,　this　review　briefly　examines　the　future　prospects　and　challenges　of　biosensors　for　food　safety　detection.　The　insights　provided　in　this　review　will　facilitate　the　development　of　biosensors　for　food　safety　detection.　©　2023　by　the　authors.