Carbon dots (CDs) are a new type of carbon-based nanomaterials with excellent fluorescence properties, low toxicity, which offer an abundant source of carbon precursors. An aptamer (Apt) can specifically bind to its target molecule, and its application in sensors can dramatically improve the detection accuracy and sensitivity. Fluorescent biosensors with CDs as the signal transduction element and Apt as the target recognition element have attracted attention from researchers. In this paper, we review the structure, classification, fluorescence properties of CDs and the advantages of Apt, with a focus on the strategies for constructing fluorescent Apt sensors based on CDs and the current status and recent progress in their application in food safety detection, aiming to provide a reference for research in the fields of food quality supervision and on-site rapid detection technology for food safety.