The application progress in active packaging materials and smart labels in food packaging was reviewed. Targeting at the existing problems in the food packaging safety field in China, we introduced the recent research progress in active packaging and smart labels in China and other countries, and reviewed some of their typical applications in the field of food packaging. The research achievement has important practical significance for accelerating the functionalization, informationization and intelligentization of food packaging, promoting the effective application of active and smart packaging labels in the process of food production, distribution and consumption in China, and enhancing the packaging safety and management levels.