Ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) is a stable, easy-to-use, and selective analytical technology with variable sensitivity which is superior to high performance liquid chromatography in many aspects such as better chromatographic separation, more sensitive analysis, shorter analysis time and reduced solvent consumption. The application of UPLC in the rapid detection of dairy additives, food additives, contaminants, mycotoxins and illegal chemical additives is reviewed in this article.