An　apparatus　for　the　rapid　determination　of　synthetic　edible　pigment　in　food,　such　as　beverage,　candy,　jelly　and　wine,　has　been　constructed　based　on　their　UV-Vis　absorption　characteristics　and　partial　least　squares　variable　selection　method.　This　apparatus　presented　advantages,　such　as　portable,　low　power　consumption,　simple　operation,　short　response　time　and　excellent　precision.　Experimental　results　showed　that,　in　the　determination　of　5　kinds　of　edible　pigment,　lemon　yellow,　sunset　yellow,　carmine,　amaranth,　brilliant　blue　in　food,　the　relative　standard　deviations　were　in　the　range　of　+/-　5%,　the　recovery　was　75%-129%,　which　corresponded　well　with　the　national　standard　method.　The　results　indicate　the　apparatus　is　applicable　for　the　rapid　analysis　of　edible　pigment　in　food.