According to the problems of the food safety in recent years, the principle of the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis technology, the classification, comparison, research and application of the NIRS instruments in food quality detection are introduced. Meanwhile, a new food safety network test and analysis system is proposed, this system is composed of near infrared spectroscopy instruments based on the acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF), and compositions, principles and technical features of the spectroscopy instruments are also introduced. In addition, its application prospects in the field of food safety are also showed. Some suggestions on the future development of the near infrared spectroscopy are given.