Abstract: In order to establish a rapid and effective method for the determination of phenolphthalein in weight-loss health food,review and summarize the technical methods of phenolphthalein detection at home and abroad in recent years.At present,the detection methods of phenolphthalein mainly include rapid detection method,phenolphthalein color level detection card,thin layer chromatography,spectrophotometry,raman spectroscopy,near infrared spectroscopy,electrospray ionization-ion migration spectrometry,enzyme linked immunoassay,hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy,ultra performance liquid chromatography and some combined techniques.The research and perfection of the rapid and simple technical methods and testing standards for the detection of illegal phenolphthalein in health food can provide technical support for public security organs to crack down on related illegal and criminal activities.