Fermentation is an important strategy for food preservation， and fermented foods are the result of the joint action of a diverse range of microorganisms that impart a special flavor to the product. Quorum sensing system (QS) is a highly targeted and universal microbial regulation mechanism， which is based on population density and regulates the behavior of multiple gene expressions by sensing the concentration of autoinducers (AI). According to different types of AIs， QS systems are classified into three major categories. The article provided an overview of fermented foods and the three major types of QS systems. The positive effects of QS systems on microbial co-culture， the prevention and control of harmful microorganisms， and the effects on fermented food quality were described. From the perspective of QS， the article broadens the research ideas of microorganisms in fermented foods， and lays the foundation for further improving the application of microorganisms in food production.