Aptamer technology is a new detection technology which has been widely used in the field of animal-origin food safety detection because of its specificity, high affinity, rapidity and low cost. In this paper, we describe the principle and classification of aptamer screening technologies, and we review recent progress in their applications in the detection of food additives, veterinary drug, hormone and antibiotic residues, mycotoxins, and pathogenic bacteria in milk and dairy products.