Irradiation is one of the main disinfection and sterilization technologies in the food industry. Through a systematic review of the changes of plastic food packaging materials before and after irradiation studied by domestic and foreign scholars, the influence of irradiation technology on their physical and chemical properties was explored. In order to do this, the irradiation technology on food and its development process was introduced. Particularly, the influence of radiation on radiolysis behavior, migration behavior and physical properties of plastic food packaging materials were the major focuses. Studies from many scholars have proved that there is a certain effect on the optical property, thermal, mechanical property and barrier performance of plastic packaging materials attributed by radiation, leading to the emergence of degradation products. Irradiation has a certain effect on the properties of plastic food packaging materials, so it is necessary to consider the changes in food safety and physical properties of materials after irradiation, and there is still room for improvement of relevant laws and regulations.