Determining the freshness of food by detecting some physical and chemical indexes including O2, H2S, CO2, pH and carbohydratesis a hot and difficult research spot in food intelligent packaging in the new era. Owing to its strong specificity, high sensitivity, rapid response and strong controllability, the fluorescence probes, were widely applied to identify some physical and chemical indexes, so with the function of judging the freshness of food. The mechanisms of the fluorescent probes were introduced firstly. Then the research progress of oxygen fluorescence probes，hydrogen sulfide fluorescence probes, carbon dioxide fluorescence probes and other types of fluorescence probes over the past decade were reviewed. Furthermore, the application prospect of fluorescent probes in food intelligent packaging was prospected.